Senior Secretary Seong Gi-hong: "'Unforeseen Accident' Phrase Meant to Comfort Injured Soldiers, Not Absolve North Korea... Deliberating on Retaining Kang Hoon-sik"

- Regrettable that summit diplomacy achievements are overshadowed by domestic issues
- Secured a bridgehead to export defense industry and K-culture to Latin America
- First lady diplomacy stood out... U.S. also views South Korea as a key partner
- Seriously pursuing a golf round between President Lee and Trump... possible in December
- U.S. investment announcement? Could be for domestic political use ahead of U.S. midterms
- Our principle is commercial rationality... We will not make loss-making investments
- Backlash against nominee Kim Ji-yong? Criticism must be based on facts
- Re-vetted thoroughly and found no issues... wasteful controversy must end
- Vacancies for Prosecution Service Chief and Justice Minister? Will proceed in the near future
- Retaining Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik? Deliberating carefully as it is a crucial post
- Ha Jun-kyung as Policy Chief? Best-suited expert specialized in addressing polarization
- President Lee calling the DMZ incident an 'unforeseen accident'? To comfort injured soldiers
- Not absolving North Korea... continuing to review necessary measures
- One-on-one meeting between President Lee and Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae? Prompt re-recommendation process is crucial

■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5 MHz 7:00 – 9:00 AM)
■ Date: October 2, 2026 (Friday)
■ Host: Attorney Kim Tae-hyun
■ Guest: Seong Gi-hong, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication

[Kim Tae-hyun]: As announced earlier, we have Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication Seong Gi-hong with us to discuss various current issues, including President Lee Jae-myung's overseas trip last week and the Blue House staff reshuffle carried out yesterday. Good morning, Senior Secretary.

[Seong Gi-hong]: Good morning.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Senior Secretary, during the President's overseas tour, you shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) summarizing how the news covered diplomatic achievements, writing, "Let us not feel upset if the media doesn't report it or the YouTube channels we trusted don't highlight it." Since there are indeed so many domestic issues, does the Blue House public communication team feel a bit disappointed that the President's diplomatic achievements get overshadowed by other news?

[Seong Gi-hong]: Rather than the communication team feeling disappointed, diplomacy is, by nature, quite different. While people are well aware of domestic affairs, diplomacy serves as a major outlet for resolving problems between nations, whether economic matters or disputes. Summit diplomacy is a crucial venue where top national leaders resolve high-level matters that working-level diplomacy cannot settle.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: That is true.

[Seong Gi-hong]: It encompasses security diplomacy, trade diplomacy, and economic diplomacy. Through it, we secure a path to safeguard our overall national security and provide a vital arena to expand our exports and trade volume. If the public were more aware of these aspects, it would inject even more energy into our diplomatic efforts. In that sense, there is always a slight feeling of regret that summit diplomacy is somewhat less recognized compared to expectations.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: That is why we set aside this time today so you can speak freely. Looking at the schedule, the President had 37 events over a period of 5 nights and 7 days. You accompanied him on all of them, didn't you?

[Seong Gi-hong]: I accompanied him on almost all of them.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Completing such a schedule must have been no easy feat for both you and the President. Was it exhausting?

[Seong Gi-hong]: While staff members like us merely follow along, it was truly grueling for the President. Over the 5-night, 7-day period, he completed an immense number of engagements within a very tight timeframe. Throughout that process, he had to constantly focus and channel his energy to convey messages to other leaders and across multilateral summit stages, so it was indeed very demanding.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: I see.

[Seong Gi-hong]: To briefly touch upon a few key achievements, let me start with Mexico. We fully concluded the revision of the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement with Mexico, which had stalled for seven years. This ensures stability for our companies investing locally regarding what business activities they can conduct there. That is one major accomplishment. In addition, Mexico is currently undertaking a fighter jet modernization project to upgrade its aging fleet, and we signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that serves as the first step toward exporting our FA-50 fighter jets.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: In the defense sector.

[Seong Gi-hong]: You could say we secured a bridgehead for our rapidly growing defense industry to export to Latin America. Furthermore, when I visited Mexico, I saw that the influence of K-culture had spread far beyond what I had imagined. Stray Kids held a concert there this time, and while there might be another opportunity to discuss this in detail later, we firmly established our standing in the K-culture sector.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: I hear that is indeed the case in Latin America.

[Seong Gi-hong]: The two leaders also agreed to build a dedicated performance hall in Mexico City to showcase K-culture. In the United States, attending the UN General Assembly provided an opportunity to expand our diverse global leadership.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Looking at recent coverage of this tour, there has been a lot of talk about first lady diplomacy. Generally, people—myself included—think of first lady diplomacy as simply attending cultural events when visiting foreign countries. It seems there was something special regarding First Lady Kim Hye-kyung's itinerary this time.

[Seong Gi-hong]: Having joined the President on an overseas tour for the first time since becoming Senior Secretary for Public Communication, I felt that first lady diplomacy is far from a mere auxiliary tool for summit diplomacy; it plays a substantial role in advancing bilateral relations.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: On this trip, specifically.

[Seong Gi-hong]: To share two anecdotes: First, there is the Fostering the Future Together (FTFT) coalition led by Melania Trump, an initiative for spouses of heads of state. The coalition was formed last year to create an environment where young people can live healthier lives, recognizing the various challenges arising in the digital age from youths worldwide becoming overly immersed in social media. The spouses' coalition hosted an event during the UN General Assembly. First Lady Kim Hye-kyung arrived on time for the reception, but Melania Trump arrived earlier than expected. Since the event was hosted on U.S. soil and Mrs. Trump was the guest of honor, they were preparing to take a group photo. However, our First Lady was not yet there. With dozens of people gathered, they could have simply proceeded with the photo, but they waited until our First Lady arrived. After waiting for about 20 minutes, once she arrived, a White House official accompanying Melania Trump explained that South Korea is a leading participating nation in FTFT and a deeply valued, crucial partner, which was why they had kept the seat vacant. They then escorted her to the seat next to Melania Trump, and the two stood together in the center of the stage for the photograph.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: That was the photo we introduced earlier; she stood right in the center.

[Seong Gi-hong]: Exactly. They had kept that center spot open and waited for her. That demonstrates that beyond the bond and chemistry between the heads of state, the chemistry between the first ladies has also been firmly solidified. There is another anecdote as well, though it seems you have many other topics you'd like to cover.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Not at all. Anecdotes are great. We welcome them.

[Seong Gi-hong]: Shall I share one more, then?

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Of course.

[Seong Gi-hong]: Something interesting happened in Mexico. Stray Kids was performing, and prior to the concert, about 10 Mexican teenagers were invited to a meeting with the President, the First Lady, and culture ministers from both countries. Generally, a meeting like that can feel very formal and rigid. It is difficult for teenagers to relax and talk on specific topics when meeting a presidential couple who traveled from the opposite side of the globe.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: That's true.

[Seong Gi-hong]: It was First Lady Kim Hye-kyung who completely broke the ice and created a natural atmosphere. She asked, "Who is your favorite member of Stray Kids?" Only then did the previously solemn teenagers begin raising their hands enthusiastically, shouting, "I like Felix!" and "I like Bang Chan!" When she replied, "I like Felix best too," someone shouted Bang Chan's name, to which the First Lady asked, "Bang-beoji?"

[Kim Tae-hyun]: She knew all about it?

[Seong Gi-hong]: That was actually the first time I had ever heard the term "Bang-beoji." It turns out it's a portmanteau of Bang Chan and "abeoji" (father). JYP's Park Jin-young was there and was amazed, asking how she knew the term "Bang-beoji." The atmosphere among the Mexican youths relaxed completely, and they engaged in a delightfully pleasant conversation. I truly felt that she plays an outstanding role in smoothly facilitating dialogue at high-level diplomatic venues.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: I see. You also visited the United States and had a bilateral meeting with President Trump. Since President Trump enjoys golf so much, there was talk about playing golf in December. Has a schedule been set with our President?

[Seong Gi-hong]: A specific schedule—what we commonly call a tee time in golf—has not been set yet. However, whenever President Trump and our President meet these days, golf is always a topic of conversation. That was the case when they met on the sidelines of the summit in Évian, France, and during meetings in Türkiye; Trump brings up golf every time they meet. During this bilateral meeting, President Trump again opened by saying, "We should play a round of golf sometime." At the end of the 30-minute meeting, our President brought up the topic by asking, "The G20 will be held in Miami; how about we play then?" In response, President Trump turned to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who was present, and told her to look into scheduling it. This suggests President Trump genuinely wants to play a round of golf with President Lee Jae-myung. We can look forward to seeing what happens during that meeting in December.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: The chemistry between the two leaders was great this time. However, after the meeting concluded, President Trump unilaterally announced plans regarding U.S. investments, particularly concerning Alaska LNG. Was there really no prior notice given to President Lee Jae-myung?

[Seong Gi-hong]: Rather than talking about prior notice, I think that announcement needs to be understood within the context of President Trump's domestic political situation in the United States.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: The midterm elections.

[Seong Gi-hong]: I believe that statement should be read in light of those circumstances. It appears he emphasized those points for his domestic audience, but in reality, no such investment commitment exists in the joint agreement reached between the two countries.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Right.

[Seong Gi-hong]: As our Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy stated during his briefing two days ago, commercial rationality is the key principle regarding Alaska LNG. Commercial rationality means that if an investment yields no return or poor returns, we do not invest. The text agreed upon by both nations clearly states that we may initiate a review only when commercial rationality and domestic legal procedures are satisfied as preconditions. Because he spoke as if it were a foregone conclusion, our Industry Minister lodged a protest with Commerce Secretary Lutnick, who expressed regret along the lines of "we will handle it properly so you don't need to worry." That is how the process played out.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Does that mean there is a high likelihood this remark was largely intended for domestic political consumption ahead of the U.S. midterms?

[Seong Gi-hong]: That is how we are inclined to understand it.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: So, in the end, it means we will not make investments that result in losses for us, correct?

[Seong Gi-hong]: Precisely. Throughout the negotiation process over investments in the U.S., our government's paramount principle has been commercial rationality. In other words, we cannot accept any investment that fails to secure financial returns. Up until the very end, the U.S. side repeatedly commented that our Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and their counterpart, Minister Kim Jung-kwan, were extremely tough and difficult negotiators. Nevertheless, we finalized the deal while steadfastly holding onto our principles.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. Let's move on to personnel matters. Yesterday, the President approved the request for a confirmation hearing for Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, and forwarded it to the National Assembly, stating that additional vetting was completed without issue.

[Seong Gi-hong]: Yes.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: It appears the President took some time in order to ease resistance from hardliners within the ruling bloc. However, hardliners within the party are still pushing back—Lawmaker Kim Yong-min brought up the Special Committee for Prosecution of Anti-National Activities, and Governor Choo Mi-ae commented that she felt deceived after visiting a well-known restaurant. What should be done about this continuing pushback?

[Seong Gi-hong]: While I believe anyone can offer political criticism or express views on an issue, that discourse must fundamentally be grounded in facts. Debates should be conducted based on objective reality. Yesterday, I announced the Blue House's position regarding Kim Ji-yong, the nominee for the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. After receiving the recommendation from the Minister of the Interior and Safety, we carefully re-vetted the suspicions and concerns raised in some quarters—such as those voiced by the politicians you just mentioned—to see if there was any substance to them. While we already believed they were unfounded, we conducted another rigorous review. That process confirmed that the political claim branding nominee Kim Ji-yong as a "pro-Yoon Suk Yeol prosecutor" is completely untrue. In fact, Kim Ji-yong was promoted to Chief Prosecutor when Governor Choo Mi-ae was Justice Minister, and he was the one who issued an order to reinvestigate the mother-in-law of former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol when she had previously avoided indictment. For that very reason, he was demoted and sidelined after the Yoon Suk Yeol administration took office. We made these facts crystal clear.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.

[Seong Gi-hong]: We believe it is desirable for debate to take place on the basis of such facts. Sorting out and clarifying these facts took some time during the vetting process. After all, the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency launches today, doesn't it?

[Kim Tae-hyun]: That's right.

[Seong Gi-hong]: It is launching with the leadership post vacant. Recognizing the urgent need to put an end to this wasteful controversy and quickly establish the framework under the new criminal justice system, we requested the National Assembly to proceed with the confirmation hearing for a candidate who has no disqualifying flaws.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Photos were released showing the President dining yesterday with former party leader Jung Chung-rae after he was discharged from the hospital. Was that dinner partly intended to soothe party hardliners who are challenging the President's personnel choices, as in the case of nominee Kim Ji-yong?

[Seong Gi-hong]: I don't see it that way. Yesterday's statement on the agency nominee and the dinner invitation extended to former leader Jung Chung-rae are two entirely separate matters. Former leader Jung stood shoulder to shoulder with the President through the last presidential campaign, and the two worked closely together as President and party leader in the early days of the administration. Since he was recently hospitalized, the dinner was simply meant to encourage him, express sympathy, and wish him a speedy recovery.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: While the agency nominee hasn't been officially appointed yet, he likely will be soon, given that the hearing request has been submitted.

[Seong Gi-hong]: Yes.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: However, Senior Secretary, key law enforcement leadership posts remain vacant, including the Minister of Justice, the head of the Prosecution Service, and the Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency. When can we expect these posts to be filled?

[Seong Gi-hong]: I expect those appointments will also proceed in due course through official procedures in the near future.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: A personnel announcement was made yesterday, but regarding Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, no decision has been finalized on whether he will stay or be replaced. You mentioned yesterday that the President is currently weighing his options. What points is the President considering?

[Seong Gi-hong]: The post of Chief of Staff is an immensely vital and weighty position. It represents the head of the presidential secretariat assisting the President—equivalent to a military chief of staff. He has served in that capacity for about a year and three to four months. The Chief of Staff constantly acts as a "red team" alongside the President, coordinates operations so the President's directives can be translated into concrete state policies, and enforces discipline within the secretariat. Because deciding whether to replace the Chief of Staff is one of the most critical decisions, it would be best understood that the President is thoroughly deliberating and contemplating the matter.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Does the internal promotion of Senior Secretary for Economic Growth Ha Jun-kyung to Director of National Policy signify the President's intention to maintain his existing economic policy stance?

[Seong Gi-hong]: That is certainly one aspect. What I would like to emphasize here is that Secretary Ha has assisted the President for over a year as Senior Secretary for Economic Growth and possesses an exceptionally deep understanding of the President's economic philosophy and policies. Moreover, Secretary Ha is a scholar uniquely specialized in striking a harmony between growth strategies and resolving polarization and balance issues. At yesterday's meeting of senior presidential secretaries, the President referred to him using the term "social economist." While maintaining the overall economic framework, Secretary Ha is well suited to serve as the policy director for the administration's second phase, devoting significant energy to substantiating the three major social policies—housing, jobs, and microfinance—so the warmth of macroeconomic growth can reach ordinary citizens. I believe the focus will be placed there.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. Senior Secretary, yesterday was Armed Forces Day, and the President delivered a commemorative address. However, opposition parties criticized his remarks because he described the recent DMZ incident as an "unforeseen accident" without mentioning North Korea's responsibility. Morning newspapers covered that angle extensively today, questioning why North Korea's responsibility was omitted and why it was described merely as an unforeseen accident. Was there a specific reason for this?

[Seong Gi-hong]: The phrase "unforeseen accident" was used in the context of comforting the soldiers who were severely injured in the incident and offering encouragement and solace to their families. The President consistently holds the conviction that special sacrifices made for the nation must receive special compensation. That is why he spoke in that context during his hospital visit to comfort the soldiers two days ago, and a message of the same purport was reflected in yesterday's Armed Forces Day address.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.

[Seong Gi-hong]: However, as everyone knows, the military and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have announced that they are in the process of determining the exact cause of this landmine incident and have declared that the truth will be made clear. Once the specific investigation results are reported, there is not the slightest change in our determination to take stern and necessary measures based on those thorough findings, and we will carry them out accordingly.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: So you are saying this was not intended to absolve North Korea.

[Seong Gi-hong]: Exactly.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: And corresponding measures are also being reviewed?

[Seong Gi-hong]: Yes, necessary measures are currently under review.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: I see. This will likely be the final question: There is currently tension between the Blue House and Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae over the recommendation of a Supreme Court justice. Some have suggested that the President should meet directly with Chief Justice Cho one-on-one to resolve the standoff. What is your view on that?

[Seong Gi-hong]: Well, while the relevant department will deliberate on various procedural matters, I believe the root cause of this situation lies with the Supreme Court's side, which allowed the situation to drag on without initiating the recommendation process immediately upon the retirement of former Justice Roh Tae-ak. As we have formally requested a re-recommendation, we hope the re-recommendation procedures will be carried out as quickly as possible so that a prolonged vacancy in the judiciary can be prevented. We wish to repeatedly urge the Supreme Court on this matter.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. We will wrap up our discussion here. We have been speaking with Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication Seong Gi-hong. Thank you, Senior Secretary.

[Seong Gi-hong]: Thank you.

The copyright of this interview material belongs to SBS Radio.
When publishing full texts or quoting from this interview,
please specify the channel and exact program name as shown below.

[SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show]

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.