Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL4073
2006-11-27 09:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEJONG INSTITUTE PRESIDENT BAEK JONG-CHUN EXPECTED
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #4073 3310908 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 270908Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1541 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1620 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1713 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7678 RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 1402 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP// RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 004073
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KS KN
SUBJECT: SEJONG INSTITUTE PRESIDENT BAEK JONG-CHUN EXPECTED
TO BE NAMED AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
REF: SEOUL 3992
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 004073
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KS KN
SUBJECT: SEJONG INSTITUTE PRESIDENT BAEK JONG-CHUN EXPECTED
TO BE NAMED AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
REF: SEOUL 3992
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (U) SUMMARY: President Roh Moo-hyun this week is expected
to name Baek Jong-chun, currently President of the
government-supported Sejong Institute, as National Security
Advisor to replace Song Min-soon, who is becoming Foreign
Minister. Baek's appointment will mark the completion of
Roh's national security roster as he enters his last year in
office (reftel). With an academic background in security
studies and inter-Korean issues, Baek is expected to be
lower-profile than Song Min-soon. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) BIO: Baek Jong-Chun, 63 years old, has served as
President of the Sejong Institute since November 2000, after
serving as Vice President and Senior Fellow at Sejong since
1995. Baek is a military/security expert, having spent much
of his career teaching at the Korea Military Academy. Baek
graduated from the Korea Military Academy, has a B.A.and M.A.
in Political Science from Seoul National University and a PhD
in Political Science from the University of North Carolina,
where his thesis was titled "Structure and Conflicts on the
Korean Peninsula." Among Baek's seven Korean-language books
are "Fifty Years of the U.S.-ROK Alliance: Analysis and
Policy," (2003) and "South Korea's National Security
Strategy: The Strategic Engagement and South Korea's Choice"
(2004). He has also written numerous articles related to the
division of the Korean Peninsula and has participated in U.S.
seminars, including the May 2006 Brookings-Sejong "Seoul
Washington Forum."
3. (SBU) Local observers cite Baek's ties to outgoing
Minister of Unification Lee Jeong-seok, who is said to have
helped Baek land the Vice Presidency and then Presidency at
Sejong. By this interpretation, Baek's presence at the Blue
House will help Lee maintain his influence after Lee returns
to Sejong.
4. (C) COMMENT: We expect Baek to be lower-profile as
National Security Advisor than outspoken Song Min-soon has
been, for several reasons. First, Song has unrivaled access
to and influence over President Roh, and will likely preserve
this chief counselor role as Foreign Minister. In addition,
Baek's principal deputy is expected to be Deputy Foreign
Minister Yun Byung-se, whom Song has worked with for years at
MOFAT. Most of our MOFAT contacts believe that Baek's role
will be similar to that of Kwon Chin-ho, National Security
Advisor 2003-2005, who was largely overshadowed by his deputy
at the time, Lee Jeong-seok. In Baek's case, he will play
second fiddle to Song Min-soon, while his deputy, Yun
Byung-se, will do most of the day-to-day management of the
NSC. One possible exception might be security and alliance
management issues, an area of expertise for Baek.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KS KN
SUBJECT: SEJONG INSTITUTE PRESIDENT BAEK JONG-CHUN EXPECTED
TO BE NAMED AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
REF: SEOUL 3992
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (U) SUMMARY: President Roh Moo-hyun this week is expected
to name Baek Jong-chun, currently President of the
government-supported Sejong Institute, as National Security
Advisor to replace Song Min-soon, who is becoming Foreign
Minister. Baek's appointment will mark the completion of
Roh's national security roster as he enters his last year in
office (reftel). With an academic background in security
studies and inter-Korean issues, Baek is expected to be
lower-profile than Song Min-soon. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) BIO: Baek Jong-Chun, 63 years old, has served as
President of the Sejong Institute since November 2000, after
serving as Vice President and Senior Fellow at Sejong since
1995. Baek is a military/security expert, having spent much
of his career teaching at the Korea Military Academy. Baek
graduated from the Korea Military Academy, has a B.A.and M.A.
in Political Science from Seoul National University and a PhD
in Political Science from the University of North Carolina,
where his thesis was titled "Structure and Conflicts on the
Korean Peninsula." Among Baek's seven Korean-language books
are "Fifty Years of the U.S.-ROK Alliance: Analysis and
Policy," (2003) and "South Korea's National Security
Strategy: The Strategic Engagement and South Korea's Choice"
(2004). He has also written numerous articles related to the
division of the Korean Peninsula and has participated in U.S.
seminars, including the May 2006 Brookings-Sejong "Seoul
Washington Forum."
3. (SBU) Local observers cite Baek's ties to outgoing
Minister of Unification Lee Jeong-seok, who is said to have
helped Baek land the Vice Presidency and then Presidency at
Sejong. By this interpretation, Baek's presence at the Blue
House will help Lee maintain his influence after Lee returns
to Sejong.
4. (C) COMMENT: We expect Baek to be lower-profile as
National Security Advisor than outspoken Song Min-soon has
been, for several reasons. First, Song has unrivaled access
to and influence over President Roh, and will likely preserve
this chief counselor role as Foreign Minister. In addition,
Baek's principal deputy is expected to be Deputy Foreign
Minister Yun Byung-se, whom Song has worked with for years at
MOFAT. Most of our MOFAT contacts believe that Baek's role
will be similar to that of Kwon Chin-ho, National Security
Advisor 2003-2005, who was largely overshadowed by his deputy
at the time, Lee Jeong-seok. In Baek's case, he will play
second fiddle to Song Min-soon, while his deputy, Yun
Byung-se, will do most of the day-to-day management of the
NSC. One possible exception might be security and alliance
management issues, an area of expertise for Baek.
VERSHBOW