Restoration of the Korea-US Alliance and Improvement of Korea-Japan Relations
Conditions Considered Met
Committed to the Success of the Yoon Government Even After Returning to University
Following the Replacement of Protocol and Diplomatic Secretaries, National Security Office Chief Resigns
Reshuffle of Diplomacy and Security Line Realized
Kim Seong-han, the Director of the National Security Office who had been surrounded by replacement rumors, abruptly tendered his resignation on the 29th.
With major diplomatic schedules such as the Korea-US summit and the Group of Seven (G7) summit planned from next month, following the successive replacements of Protocol Secretary Kim Il-beom and Diplomatic Secretary Lee Moon-hee, the 'diplomacy and security control tower' has also stepped down.
It appears to be closely related to the allegations of mistakes during the coordination process of President Yoon Seok-yeol's state visit to the United States and agenda adjustments.
On the same day, Kim announced his resignation through a notice to the presidential press corps, stating, "I wish to step down from the position of Director of the National Security Office effective today."
Kim said, "When I was offered the position by the President a year ago, I mentioned that I would return to academia after restoring the Korea-US alliance, improving Korea-Japan relations, and laying the foundation to strengthen Korea-US-Japan security cooperation. I now believe that those conditions have been somewhat fulfilled."
He added, "The preparations for the President's upcoming state visit to the United States are progressing well, so I believe that even if a new successor comes, the work can be carried out without any disruption."
He also said, "I hope that the controversies caused by me will no longer be a burden on diplomacy and national governance," and "Even after returning to university, I will do my best for the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."
Kim, who served as the 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade during the Lee Myung-bak administration and as a professor at Korea University's Graduate School of International Studies, is an alumnus of Daekwang Elementary School with President Yoon and was called the President's 'diplomacy and security tutor' during the presidential election period.
However, inside and outside the presidential office, there were speculations that mistakes might have occurred during the coordination of schedules and agendas related to President Yoon Seok-yeol's state visit to the United States, such as omissions of official documents or requests from the U.S. side, and the failure to report letters of goodwill from foreign leaders in real time.
In particular, concerns arose in some quarters that Kim's views might not have aligned with President Yoon's intentions regarding major diplomatic and security issues, including responses to North Korean drones, beyond just the U.S. visit schedule.
Presidential office officials had responded that it was unreasonable for replacement rumors about Kim to circulate ahead of important diplomatic issues, but following Protocol Secretary Kim Il-beom's voluntary resignation just before the Korea-Japan summit on the 16th, and the replacement of the diplomatic secretary, Kim's resignation has made the reorganization of the diplomacy and security line a reality.
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