[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Kim Ki-woong, who has been appointed as the first Vice Minister of Unification under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, is regarded as a leading expert on inter-Korean talks. In 2013, when the Kaesong Industrial Complex was temporarily closed, he was suddenly assigned as the chief representative during negotiations between the South and North Korean authorities for its reopening. He also participated as a working-level representative in the inter-Korean talks following the '8.25 Agreement' in 2015.
Kim graduated from Seonggwang High School and the Department of Diplomacy at Seoul National University, entering the Ministry of Unification through a special recruitment for Grade 5 officials. Since then, he has held key positions such as Head of the First Negotiation Division of the Inter-Korean Talks Headquarters, Director of Unification Policy Planning, Director of the Situation Analysis Bureau, Head of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Zone Support Group, and Director of the Unification Policy Office, gaining extensive experience.
Since 1990, he has been involved in almost all inter-Korean talks and is recognized within the Ministry of Unification as a leading expert on inter-Korean negotiations. During Jeong Se-hyun’s tenure as Minister of Unification in 2003, he also served as the minister’s secretary. During the Park Geun-hye administration, he worked as the Unification Secretary at the Blue House.
Among Ministry of Unification staff, there was much speculation that an outsider would be appointed as Vice Minister following the Minister, but there is also a welcoming atmosphere regarding the appointment of a Ministry insider as Vice Minister. He is known within the Ministry for handling matters meticulously and cautiously.
▲ Seoul (61) ▲ Graduate of Seonggwang High School ▲ Graduate of the Department of Diplomacy, Seoul National University ▲ Graduate of the Graduate School of Diplomacy, Seoul National University ▲ Head of the First Negotiation Division, Inter-Korean Talks Headquarters, Ministry of Unification ▲ Director of Unification Policy Planning, Ministry of Unification ▲ Director of Situation Analysis Bureau, Ministry of Unification ▲ Expert Member of the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Unification Subcommittee, 18th Presidential Transition Committee ▲ Head of Inter-Korean Cooperation Zone Support Group, Ministry of Unification ▲ Director of Unification Policy Office, Ministry of Unification ▲ Head of Inter-Korean Talks Headquarters, Ministry of Unification ▲ Unification Secretary, Office of the Senior Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Security, Blue House
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