President-led NSC Outcome Document Unusually Includes Praise for Specific Individual... Reflects Blue House View That It Is Not a Dismissal-Driven Replacement
[Asia Economy Reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Lee Ji-eun] The Blue House released the results of the first National Security Council (NSC) meeting of the new year on the 21st, and the entire content was praise for Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, who was replaced on the 20th. This is a very unusual occurrence. The Blue House usually includes only general and dry content such as responses to the situation on the Korean Peninsula in NSC materials.
According to the materials, President Moon Jae-in said, "As our government's first female foreign minister and the longest-serving minister, she devotedly made many contributions." It was noted that she played a significant role in overcoming the situation on the Korean Peninsula early in the Moon Jae-in administration and in the process of advancing the peace process, including inter-Korean summits. The NSC materials also included remarks from Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, praising Minister Kang.
There is a perspective that it is difficult to simply interpret this as a courtesy to a retiring minister. It seems particularly necessary to emphasize that Minister Kang's resignation is not a dismissal-type replacement.
Immediately after the cabinet reshuffle announcement, which included Minister Kang's replacement, reports interpreting it as "Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, having her 'death note' take effect" emerged, prompting the Blue House to urgently step in to quell the situation. This view holds that ministers criticized by Kim Yo-jong in her statements have been dismissed by the Blue House.
Regarding this, Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok requested, "Please refrain from reckless speculative reports that could divide national opinion." He also conveyed that Minister Kang had expressed her intention to resign several times since last year.
However, on the morning of the 21st, Minister Kang, speaking to reporters on her way to work about the replacement decision made the previous day, said, "There are many difficult diplomatic tasks piled up, and I felt sorry for my juniors yesterday. I feel both relieved and a bit regretful," showing a somewhat different reaction from the Blue House's praise.
On the afternoon of the 21st, President Moon called Minister Kang Kyung-wha, former Minister of SMEs and Startups Park Young-sun, and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yang-woo, whose replacements were decided, to the Blue House for a dinner together.
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