[Exclusive] Jo Taeyong, New National Security Office Chief, Attends Yoon-Tai Meeting as First Schedule (Comprehensive)

President Yoon's National Security Office Chief Begins Work Within Half a Day
May Offer Opinions on Trade Issues Including IRA

New National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong will attend the meeting between President Yoon Suk-yeol and Katherine Tai, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), on the 30th. This will be his first schedule since his appointment as the new National Security Office Director. Cho is expected to provide opinions on the outcomes of the recently opened Democracy Summit and on Korea-US cooperation plans.

According to the Presidential Office on the 30th, President Yoon will meet with Representative Tai at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in the morning. Representative Tai visited Korea to attend the 2nd Democracy Summit, hosted by the United States and co-hosted by Korea, held from the 29th to the 30th.

Newly appointed National Security Office Director Cho, who was nominated the day before, will be present at this meeting. It will be just half a day after President Yoon accepted the resignation of former National Security Office Director Kim Sung-han and nominated his successor, marking Cho’s immediate start in assisting the president. A senior official from the Presidential Office stated, "As a top expert on U.S. affairs, having served as the first ambassador to the U.S. under the Yoon administration, there is absolutely no problem with him immediately starting his duties," adding, "We plan to proceed smoothly with preparations for the Korea-US summit and other matters."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the meeting with Representative Tai, President Yoon is expected to discuss the themes of the Democracy Summit and the reactions of participating countries. There is also a possibility of exchanging views on sensitive trade issues between the two countries, such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the CHIPS Act.

Before returning to Korea, on the 20th, Director Cho also met with Representative Tai to discuss current issues including President Yoon’s upcoming visit to the U.S. next month, negotiations on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), and the Semiconductor Science Act. In August last year, after the enactment of the U.S. IRA, which included provisions seen as discriminatory against Korean electric vehicles, Director Cho personally toured the U.S. government, Congress, and local authorities to persuade them of Korea’s position.

Notably, Director Cho was appointed as the first ambassador to the U.S. after the launch of the Yoon administration in May last year and has been active in line with the government’s policy of "strengthening and developing the Korea-US alliance." Until recently, he has been directly and indirectly involved in President Yoon’s state visit to the U.S. and the "70th anniversary of the Korea-US alliance" commemorative projects. The official added, "Given his high level of understanding of bilateral issues, he will participate in the meeting and luncheon to exchange various opinions."

The Presidential Office stated that, considering the urgency of appointing a new National Security Office Director just three weeks before President Yoon’s state visit to the U.S., they quickly nominated a well-vetted individual as the successor, so there will be no gap in duties. It is known that President Yoon has nominated Cho Hyun-dong, the first vice minister of foreign affairs, as the new ambassador to the U.S. President Yoon plans to request agr?ment (prior approval for diplomatic envoys) from the U.S. administration.

However, concerns continue to be raised about the sudden chain replacement of the diplomatic and security line, as the successor was announced less than an hour after Director Kim announced his resignation. The Presidential Office denied the replacement rumors until the 28th, but the successor was nominated in less than an hour, leading to analysis that discussions about replacing the National Security Office Director had already been underway.

Director Kim’s statement upon his resignation, saying, "I hope the controversy caused by me will no longer be a burden on diplomacy and national governance," is interpreted as acknowledging issues during the coordination of the U.S. visit schedule. The replacement of Foreign Secretary Lee Moon-hee on the 27th was the trigger, and just before President Yoon’s visit to Japan, Protocol Secretary Kim Il-beom suddenly stepped down.

Additionally, suspicions have been raised that important cultural events proposed by the U.S. side were omitted. It is reported that U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden sent several letters proposing cultural programs featuring Blackpink and Lady Gaga, but did not receive a response. This suggests that amid the need for discussions on sensitive issues such as the IRA and the CHIPS Act, basic communication and reporting processes were not properly handled and the confusion was not overlooked.