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Professor Hyun In-taek of Korea University and former Foreign Minister Yoo Jong-ha, the architects of Lee Myung-bak’s pragmatic foreign policies, are expected to take important posts in his administration when he takes office in February, foreshadowing a return to closer ties with the United States and a more stringent policy on North Korea.

Professor Hyun began working with the president-elect at the end of last year, and at his request led an advisory team consisting of approximately 10 professors. The team ironed out Lee’s foreign and security policies, collectively known as the “MB Doctrine,” as well as Lee’s North Korea policy, a pledge to raise the per capita income of the communist country to US$3,000 once its denuclearization is complete.

Hyun was reported to have been introduced to Lee by Professor Kwak Seung-jun of Korea University, one of Lee’s economic advisers. While reviewing the MB Doctrine, Lee asked Hyun to modify it up to 17 times, and suggested a comprehensive security construct merging traditional and nontraditional security concepts. Hyun studied under Han Seung-joo, known as Lee Myung-bak’s mentor for foreign policy and former South Korean foreign minister and ambassador to Washington, and is currently the director of Ilmin Institute of International Relations at Korea University. As Hyun is considered to be a key thinker in the area of foreign and security policies, it is anticipated that he will be appointed as Lee’s first foreign minister or chief presidential secretary for unification, security and foreign policy.

Kim Tae-hyo, a professor of international politics at SungKyunKwan University, has been Lee’s tutor in foreign affairs since Lee was the mayor of Seoul. At that time, Lee regularly invited scholars in the economy and foreign affairs to help him improve his knowledge in these fields. Professor Kim was one of them.

Other people who are likely to hold key posts in the next government include Professor Kim Woo-sang of Yonsei University, who offered foreign policy advice to Lee after organizing a separate advisory team at the beginning of Lee’s campaign; Professor Nam Sung-wook of Korea University, who has advised Lee to adopt a reciprocal approach to inter-Korean relations; and Professor Nam Joo-hong of Kyonggi University, who advocates for Korea to bolster its alliance with the United States. Former Foreign Minister Han Seung-joo will likely advise Lee behind the scenes.

Former Foreign Minister Yoo Jong-ha, who led Lee’s national security and foreign affairs advisory team within the conservative Grand National Party, was also reported to have suggested that the nation restore its ties with the United States.

Park Soo-gil, former Ambassador to the United Nations, also supported Lee during the GNP primary. Former ambassador to Algeria, Park Dae-won, and former ambassador to Ireland, Kwon Jong-rak, both advised Lee to strengthen diplomacy between the four parties of South Korea, the United States, Japan and China. They, together with Dr. Im Seung-bin, who served as a researcher at a research center at Tokyo University, are also expected to have posts in Lee’s administration.


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