Tale of two gov`t officials

Former South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok had the greatest influence over reunification, foreign affairs and national security policies under the Roh Moo-hyun administration. Lee advised Roh on reunification and foreign policies when the latter ran for president in 2001 and was appointed the first deputy chief of the National Security Council in March 2003. Though Lee’s position was equivalent to that of a vice minister, his influence was bigger than those of ministers. Working from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Lee was called “7-11” and took care of all reports on foreign affairs, inter-Korean relations and defense submitted to the president.

Many doubted at the time that Lee could properly respond to the readjustment of bilateral relations between South Korea and the U.S., including the relocation of U.S. forces in South Korea, the growing nuclear threat from North Korea, and an upheaval in Northeast Asia’s security landscape. Because of this, he hated when people called him an “amateur.” Lee was promoted to unification minister in 2006, but resigned after the North launched long-range missiles in July that year and conducted a nuclear test three months later. His resignation ended the Roh administration’s “peace and prosperity policy.”

Kim Tae-hyo, secretary for international strategy under the incumbent Lee Myung-bak administration, has many things in common with Lee Jong-seok. Though Kim Byung-kook, senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security was replaced by Kim Sung-hwan and again by Chun Young-woo, Kim Tae-hyo has continuously held positions related to reunification, foreign affairs and national security. In a parliamentary confirmation for then Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister-designate Kim Sung-hwan in October 2010, lawmakers summoned Kim Tae-hyo as a witness and asked him a wave of questions on foreign and national security policies. Some say he understands President Lee’s will well and is the only person who can explain the president’s foreign and security strategies without reserve.

Kim Tae-hyo was promoted Sunday to coordinator of international strategy for the senior presidential secretary for diplomacy and security, a position equivalent to a senior presidential secretary. Some say the Lee administration’s diplomacy is tilted toward the U.S. because a figure with no knowledge of China is wielding huge influence on foreign and security policies. Few people call Kim Tae-hyo an amateur, however. An uphill battle lies ahead in foreign affairs and inter-Korean relations this year. If Kim Tae-hyo receives a favorable evaluation this year, the administration’s foreign and security policies will produce favorable results as well.

Editorial Writer Ha Tae-won (triplets@donga.com)