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| Foreign Minister nominee Park Jin, left, and Unification Minister nominee Kwon Young-se / Yonhap |
Yoon gov't to prioritize Korea-US ties, but leaves door open for inter-Korean talks
By Kang Seung-woo
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's nominations of key members of his national security team suggest that the new South Korean administration plans to engage in diplomacy that places alignment with the United States at the center of its foreign policy priorities, according diplomatic observers.
In addition, Yoon, who pledged to take a hardline stance against North Korea on the campaign trail, has left room for inter-Korean dialogue following the designation of a close aide and centrist politician to the unification minister post.
On Wednesday, Yoon nominated Rep. Park Jin of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) as foreign minister, while tapping Rep. Kwon Young-se, another PPP lawmaker, to head the unification ministry. Along with them, the incoming president also appointed six other Cabinet members and his first chief of staff.
"Although it remains to be seen how Yoon will flesh out its national security team ― which will also include the national security director and the first and second deputy directors of the National Security Office, as well as the chief of the National Intelligence Service ― Yoon's national security team until now is made up of experts on the relationship with the U.S.," said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University.
Park, 66, is a four-term lawmaker who served as the chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs, Trade and National Unification Committee from 2008 to 2010. In that capacity, he helped pass the free trade agreement between South Korea and the U.S.
On Sunday, Yoon also nominated Lee Jong-sup, a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who has expertise in the South Korea-U.S. alliance, as the defense minister, while former Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sung-han, a strong advocate of the nation's ties with the U.S., is the most likely candidate for the national security adviser position.
Yoon's desire to develop a U.S.-centered foreign policy is seen in his dispatch of the ROK-U.S. Policy Consultation Delegation, led by the foreign minister nominee, to Washington, D.C., earlier this month. During its visit, the delegates met with key senior officials of the Joe Biden administration such as National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Kurt Campbell, the White House policy coordinator for Asia.
The delegation also hinted at its commitment to the U.S. amid U.S.-China competition.
Following Yoon's election, the fate of the unification ministry, which oversees inter-Korean affairs, was uncertain, as PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok had been insisting on abolishing the ministry, arguing that its efforts toward inter-Korean ties ― which have been stalled since the U.S.-North Korea summit ended without a deal in February 2019 ― had been ineffective.
However, the nomination of Kwon is seen as being part of Yoon's intent to empower the ministry and improve relations between South and North Korea.
"During the campaign, Yoon's side provided the impression that they were paying little attention to the unification ministry, but the designation of the unification minister means Yoon is lending his support to the ministry," Park said.
The professor also said that by nominating Kwon, who is not a hawkish on North Korea, the Yoon administration is leaving the door open for inter-Korean talks.
"As far as I know, the president-elect tried to nominate dovish figures for the unification minister post, and in that respect, Kwon is the perfect fit for the job, since he is not a hardliner on North Korea," Park said.
While announcing the second lineup of appointees to his Cabinet, Yoon also described Kwon as a figure who maintains a centrist and pragmatic stance.
Kwon, 63, a four-term lawmaker, served as the ambassador to China under the Park Geun-hye administration.
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