UN Secretary-General, CBS Radio Interview
"Much of the Reported Content is Not True"
Lee Cheol-gyu, Secretary General of the People Power Party, clarified that the rumors of a 'conflict' with Kim Tae-hyo, the first deputy director, regarding the resignation of Kim Seong-han, the National Security Office chief of the Presidential Office, are "not true."
On the 30th, Secretary General Lee said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "Some reports mention conflicts and such, but that is not the case."
Kim tendered his resignation the day before, and considering the persistent rumors of dismissal beforehand, it is evaluated that it was essentially a 'dismissal.' In particular, reports suggest that the decisive factor was the failure to properly convey the U.S. side's request for a 'BLACKPINK' performance during President Yoon Seok-yeol's upcoming visit to the U.S. The opposition party is also raising theories of a 'power struggle' within the National Security Office.
Regarding this, Secretary General Lee said, "When I took charge of the Foreign and Security Office, I continuously mentioned that once the government stabilizes, and relations with the U.S. and Japan normalize, the Korea-U.S. alliance is restored, and a Korea-U.S. cooperation system is established, I would return to academia. It seems that after achieving some results and reaching this state, the decision to resign was made."
Known as a pro-Yoon (친윤) faction member within the party, Secretary General Lee responded to the host's question, "Was this decision made in consultation with the ruling party?" by saying, "So, I am saying that a significant portion of those reports are not true," while also adding, "I cannot possibly know everything, can I?" Regarding the reports that the failure to properly convey the 'BLACKPINK' performance request was the cause, he said, "I have not been able to confirm that specifically."
Some express concern that replacing the National Security Office chief of the Presidential Office less than a month before the visit to the U.S. could affect the Korea-U.S. summit. Secretary General Lee said, "The successor, Cho Tae-yong, is a complete U.S. expert, the best U.S. expert, and also possesses very thorough knowledge and experience regarding North Korean nuclear issues, so there should be no significant difficulties in the replacement of the National Security Office chief."
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