Presidential Office on Appointment of Chief Jo Taeyong: "Suitable Due to Field Experience"

Former Director Kim's Resignation "Needs to Be Viewed in a Larger Context"
New Director Cho "Mission Is to Complete National Goals"

New National Security Office Chief Cho Tae-yong stated on the 30th, "My mission is to strive to complete the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's national agenda."

Cho, the new chief, held his first briefing at the presidential office building in Yongsan, Seoul, in the afternoon, saying, "It is a critical time, and I feel a heavy responsibility in taking on the position of National Security Office chief."

In particular, Cho mentioned, "I believe that over the past 11 months, the foundation has been well laid for building a global pivotal state, which is the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's national goal." He added, "I see my mission as building a good structure on that foundation to complete the national agenda." He continued, "To achieve this, I believe it is absolutely necessary for all members of the presidential office, including the National Security Office, to work together with one heart and as one team," and added, "I will also do my best for this purpose."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting after taking a commemorative photo with Cho Tae-yong, the newly appointed Director of the National Security Office, who received his appointment letter at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul on the 30th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The presidential office commented on Cho's appointment, stating, "When it comes to adding diplomatic details, a person with field diplomatic experience may be more suitable than a scholar." They explained that recent incidents were not the main reason for the personnel change and added, "Please understand that this change in the National Security Office chief position came as a natural progression." When asked whether former National Security Office chief Kim Sung-han's resignation was due to a failure in reporting within the diplomatic and security line, a presidential office official replied, "While this personnel change can be viewed in the context of incidents, it is also necessary to see it from a broader perspective."

The official further emphasized, "Cho is regarded as a capable diplomat who can simultaneously see the big picture and the details, the forest and the trees, making him the most suitable person at this time." They elaborated, "As ambassador to the United States, he has handled issues related to Korea-US relations and has continuously followed up on this recent visit to the US, so there can be no gaps regarding the state visit."

Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk-yeol decided to accept former chief Kim's resignation after careful consideration and appointed Cho Tae-yong, then ambassador to the US, as his successor. Cho served as First Secretary at the Korean Embassy in the US in 1993 and worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's North American Affairs Bureau as head of the North America 2 Division and North America 1 Division. In 2002, he was the North America 2 Counselor, in 2004, the head of the North Korea Nuclear Task Force (TF), and from 2006, the director of the North American Affairs Bureau.

During the Park Geun-hye administration, he was appointed head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Korea Peninsula Peace Negotiation Headquarters in 2013, overseeing North Korea nuclear-related policy affairs. He served as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' First Vice Minister in 2014 and as the first deputy director of the National Security Office in 2015. He also has work experience as a partner with current Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who served as Deputy Secretary of State under the Barack Obama administration. In early April last year, as a member of President-elect Yoon's Korea-US policy consultation delegation, he visited the US, and upon the start of President Yoon's term, he was appointed ambassador to the US.