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Kim Tae-hyo, the first deputy director of the National Security Office, gives a briefing at the presidential office in August 2022. (presidential office pool photo)

With the abrupt resignation of Kim Sung-han, who as director of the National Security Office served as the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s de facto head of foreign and security affairs since its inauguration, there has been speculation that his more hard-line No. 2, Kim Tae-hyo, will enjoy even stronger influence.

Kim Tae-hyo, the first deputy director of the NSO, is known to be a much stronger supporter of closer ties with Japan than Kim Sung-han was. The deputy director is expected to bolster Japan-oriented foreign policy, such as by strengthening trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan.

Kim Tae-hyo and Kim Sung-han were seen as a two-horse carriage in the Yoon Suk-yeol government’s diplomacy and security line. Despite the difference in age and rank with Kim Sung-han, Kim Tae-hyo is known for his strong, assertive personality.

Kim Sung-han was once a classmate of Yoon’s in elementary school and his “private tutor” for diplomatic and foreign affairs. The NSO chief, however, was suddenly replaced on Wednesday, leaving Kim Tae-hyo as the last remaining highest-ranking foreign affairs and security staff member at the presidential office. Shin In-ho, former second deputy chief at the NSO, resigned last August due to health reasons.

Although his direct Lee Moon-hee was dismissed as a result of omitting information from reports to the presidential office about holding a joint Blackpink-Lady Gaga concert proposed by the US, Kim Tae-hyo was able to come out of the situation unscathed. The reporting about the concert issue is also the apparent reason Kim Sung-han was replaced.

This further illustrates Yoon’s trust in Kim Tae-hyo. The first deputy director used to be Yoon’s neighbor at an apartment complex before the president moved into his official residence. It seems that Kim Tae-hyo’s “advice” and “assistance” will be difficult to ignore until Cho Tae-yong, who was appointed as the new NSO head, adapts to the Yongsan way of doing things.

Kim Tae-hyo also worked hand-in-hand with First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong, who has been tapped as the new ambassador to the US, and worked closely with the Blue House in the past in his position as a presidential secretary for external affairs and strategies under the Lee Myung-bak administration.

The first deputy director has also long maintained a pro-Japan diplomatic policy line. Unlike Kim Sung-han or Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin, he has long advocated for radical advancements in bilateral relations with Japan, such as through the South Korea-Japan summit and the process of coming up with a “solution” for victims of Japanese colonial era forced labor.

While Kim Sung-han and Park Jin had concerns about breaking too much with the public during the South Korea-Japan summit, Kim Tae-hyo adopted a more aggressive approach, arguing that “even if the approval ratings decline, we must improve relations.” Saying he would “take responsibility,” his approach was completely in line with what Yoon wanted.

“It is hard to deny that there were disagreements between Kim Sung-han and Kim Tae-hyo,” a presidential office official said, adding that “as a result, first deputy director Kim was the one to accurately understand what president Yoon was thinking.”

Kim Tae-hyo also led the country’s foreign policy toward Japan under the former Lee Myung-bak administration.

Kim, who was called a big shot in foreign affairs circles at the time, worked as presidential secretary for external affairs and strategies and focused on promoting the government's hardline stance toward North Korea and improving relations with Japan, all while being backed by Lee’s full confidence in him.

In 2012, however, he was fired after being blamed for the closed-door push for the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between South Korea and Japan.

Meanwhile, after Yoon presented Cho Tae-yong with his letter of appointment for his new post on Wednesday, he took a group photo with NSO staff of rank higher than secretary.

“I think it is absolutely necessary for all members of the presidential office, including the NSO, to work together in unison and as one team,” Cho told reporters, in an attempt at straightening out the chaotic atmosphere.

By Kim Mi-na, staff reporter

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