Cho Tae-yong Appointed as Director of National Intelligence, Returning as Intelligence Chief After 9 Months
Former UN Ambassador Cho Tae-yeol Named New Foreign Minister, Expert in Diplomacy and Economic Trade
New National Security Office Chief Appointment Delayed... Presidential Office Says "There Are Many Things to Consider"
Some members of the government's new foreign and security team have been revealed. On the 19th, President Yoon Seok-yeol nominated Cho Tae-yong, the National Security Office chief, as the candidate for Director of the National Intelligence Service, and Cho Tae-yeol, former UN Ambassador, as the candidate for Minister of Foreign Affairs. Cho Tae-yong, who had been serving as the National Security Office chief at the Presidential Office since March, moved to lead the intelligence agency after about nine months, while the new foreign minister is an expert well-versed in the economic and trade sectors.
Kim Dae-gi, Chief of Staff to the President, announced these appointments on the afternoon of the same day at the Yongsan Presidential Office. Regarding candidate Cho Tae-yong, Chief Kim said, "He is a foreign and security strategist who has held key positions across the board, well-versed in both US relations and North Korean security issues, with abundant experience," adding, "Having achieved results in raising South Korea's international stature and establishing a flawless security posture, it is expected that he will elevate security and intelligence capabilities to a new level as Director of the National Intelligence Service." About candidate Cho Tae-yeol, he said, "He is well-versed in bilateral and multilateral economic and trade matters," and "Since economic and diplomatic issues are intricately intertwined, he is expected to greatly contribute to resolving our pressing challenges."
Cho Tae-yong, nominee for the Director of the National Intelligence Service (left), and Cho Tae-yeol, nominee for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Candidate Cho Tae-yong was born in Seoul in 1956, graduated from Gyeonggi High School, majored in political science at Seoul National University, and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1980 after passing the 14th Foreign Service Examination. He served as First Secretary at the Embassy in the United States in 1993, worked in the North American Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as head of the North America 2 Division and North America 1 Division, and in 2002 was the North America 2 Counselor. In 2004, he led the North Korean Nuclear Task Force (TF), and in 2006, he served as Director of the North American Affairs Bureau. After the launch of the Yoon administration, he was appointed National Security Office chief in March. Candidate Cho stated, "The National Intelligence Service stands at the forefront of protecting the Republic of Korea as a pivotal national intelligence agency," and "I will devote all my efforts to making the NIS a world-class intelligence agency that can compete with any intelligence agency globally."
Candidate Cho Tae-yeol served as Director of the International Trade Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Counselor for Trade Policy Planning, Director of the Regional Trade Bureau, Deputy Ambassador to the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Trade Negotiation Coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador to Spain, and Ambassador for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2013 to 2016, he oversaw multilateral diplomacy and development cooperation as the Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. Notably, candidate Cho is also known as the youngest son of the Cheongnokpa poet Cho Ji-hoon, famous for works such as ‘Seungmu’ and ‘Nakhwa.’ Candidate Cho said, "I will devote myself wholeheartedly to wisely navigating the severe external environment, expanding the position, strategic space, and scope of activities of our diplomacy, and firmly establishing the foundation for national security and prosperity."
However, the appointment of the new National Security Office chief was not announced on the same day. Although Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jang Ho-jin is considered a strong candidate, the Presidential Office explained, "We will announce the appointment after further review," adding, "The position of National Security Office chief is extremely important and serious. Cho Tae-yong will continue to serve until the next confirmation hearing." Regarding the 'review of appointments,' they added, "There are many factors to consider when making appointments," and "We will announce as soon as preparations are complete."
Instead, the establishment of a third deputy chief position dedicated to economic security within the National Security Office was officially confirmed. This decision was made based on the judgment that timely response has become necessary as economic issues are directly linked to security and vice versa due to global problems such as US-China hegemonic competition, worldwide bloc formation, and regional and international conflicts.
A senior official at the Presidential Office explained the reason for the new position, saying, "The first deputy chief will be responsible for diplomacy, the second for defense, and the third for economic security," adding, "Diplomatic and economic relations are breaking down, and especially with the international economic order, which was peaceful under past free trade principles, now undergoing tectonic shifts, supply chains are also important, so someone must take the role of commander."
With the establishment of the third deputy chief, it is highly likely that the Economic Security Secretariat, currently under the first deputy chief, will be moved under the third deputy chief. When the Yoon administration launched last May, it established the Economic Security Secretariat, stating it was an "era of economic security where the dividing line between economy and security is becoming blurred." The Economic Security Secretariat handles key foreign policy tasks such as Korea-Japan economic security dialogue, Korea-US-Japan supply chain early warning system, Korea-US next-generation core emerging technology dialogue, and Korea-Netherlands economic security dialogue. Additionally, it is expected that more secretariats related to economic security will be established. Currently, under the first deputy chief, there are four secretariats: Economic Security, Security Strategy, Diplomacy, and Unification, while under the second deputy chief are the Defense and Cybersecurity Secretariats and the National Crisis Management Center chief.
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