Kim Sung-han emerges as top diplomatic adviser for Yoon
Kim Sung-han, center, a professor at Korea University's Graduate School of International Studies, was appointed as head of the diplomacy and security division of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition committee, Tuesday. At left is former First Vice Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok who was appointed to head the transition committee's first economy division, and on the right is Rep. Lee Yong-ho of the main opposition conservative People Power Party, head of the committee's state affairs, judiciary and administrative division. Yonhap
Ex-vice Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok appointed to lead first economy division
By Jung Da-min
Kim Sung-han, a professor at Korea University's Graduate School of International Studies, has established himself as the top diplomatic figure under the upcoming Yoon Suk-yeol administration, after being tapped to head the diplomacy and security division of the President-elect's transition committee, Tuesday.
Previously a vice foreign minister under the 2008-13 Lee Myung-bak administration, Kim is one of Yoon's key policy mentors, having served as his chief foreign policy adviser during the election campaign. The two are also old friends who attended elementary school together.
Following the election victory, Kim has emerged as the top candidate for Yoon's inaugural foreign minister or national security director.
Kim is the architect of Yoon's foreign policy framework that focuses on reinforcing Korea's alliance with the U.S. by restoring trust between the two countries.
During the campaign period, Kim hinted at a change in foreign policy direction to prioritize the alliance, while criticizing the Moon Jae-in government for failing to maintain close ties with the U.S. and rather leaning toward China.
Yoon had also echoed such views in his contribution piece to the international relations magazine Foreign Affairs, published Feb. 8.
“Seoul's reluctance to take a firm stand on a number of issues that have roiled the relationship between Washington and Beijing has created an impression that South Korea has been tilting toward China and away from its longtime ally, the United States,” Yoon claimed in the piece.
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol arrives at Uljin Airport in North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday, to visit local residents who are suffering from the damage caused by the forest fire in the region. Joint Press Corps
A number of foreign policies, especially those related to North Korea, are also expected to be changed under Yoon's leadership, as he has strongly criticized the Moon government for creating a “master-servant relationship” between the Koreas by kowtowing to the North to pursue dialogue as an end itself rather than as a specific means for denuclearization negotiations.
Yoon held his first phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden on March 10, just hours after he was elected as the next president. Kim has established a wide-spanning network in Washington's diplomatic circles and the President-elect used Kim's phone to speak with Biden.
As for North Korea policy, Kim has emphasized that some practical denuclearization measures should come from North Korea before any sanctions relief is granted, although Yoon will also prioritize dialogue for negotiations.
Kim has also proposed a comprehensive deal to solve the conflict between South Korea and Japan, saying it would be impossible for the countries to find a solution to each issue.
Also on Tuesday, Choi Sang-mok, former first vice finance minister from 2016 to 2017 under the conservative Park Geun-hye administration, was appointed to lead the first economy division, and Rep. Lee Yong-ho of the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP), a journalist-turned politician, was put in charge of the state affairs, judiciary and administrative division.
Park Joo-sun, a former four-term lawmaker and former deputy speaker of the National Assembly from 2016 to 2018, has been nominated as the chair of the inauguration ceremony preparation committee for Yoon's inauguration slated for May 10.
Earlier on Sunday, Yoon appointed Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition conservative People's Party, who had withdrawn his presidential candidacy to stand behind Yoon of the PPP, to lead his transition committee.
PPP Rep. Kwon Young-se and former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong, who had led Yoon's election campaign, became the transition committee's vice chairman and planning chief, respectively.