Kim Jin-ah, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, is the key official preparing for the 2025 APEC Summit.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jin-ah's role in preparing for APEC

On July 23, 2025, a comprehensive meeting was held at the Seoul Government Complex Annex to review the preparations for the APEC summit. During the meeting, Deputy Minister Kim Jin-ah of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed the government on the current status of preparations. He systematically explained all the details, including the cooperation systems among various government departments for APEC preparations, the status of accommodation and transportation infrastructure, meeting venue arrangements, the movement of leaders, interpretation systems, and cultural performance programs. He specifically addressed the focus of key agenda discussions and the coordination process of detailed working groups, repeatedly stating that preparations were "perfectly ready." This briefing was also shared in video format, capturing a scene of Prime Minister Kim Min-seok listening attentively and smiling contentedly, which was reported by the media. Titled "Perfect APEC," this briefing was noted as a symbolic moment highlighting Deputy Minister Kim's practical capabilities in the international arena. He demonstrated his role as a "coordinator" who creates agendas and manages their execution, rather than being just a "briefing diplomat" associated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From North Korean military analyst to head of diplomatic affairs

Vice Minister Kim Jin-a is not someone who has followed a traditional career path within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He comes from an academic background in defense, having worked as a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) since 2012, and served as the head of the North Korean Military Research Center. During this period, he was active as one of the top analysts in the country on issues related to U.S.-North Korea relations, nuclear issues, non-proliferation strategies, and North Korean military strategies. His major research has formed the theoretical foundation for South Korea's security policies and has been utilized in policy reports of various government departments. Notably, reports that meticulously analyze North Korea's internal military systems, command and control structures, and wartime mobilization systems have been cited in key decision-making processes of the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the National Security Office of the Blue House. Thus, he has established himself as a practical scholar providing specific information and interpretations for policymakers.

Role as a UN Disarmament Advisor

In December 2023, Kim Jin-ah was appointed as a member of the United Nations Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, directly under the UN Secretary-General. She is the third Korean and the first civilian to be appointed to this position. This body coordinates the direction of global disarmament policy and reviews disarmament-related activities within the UN. She began her official term in 2024 and attends regular meetings held twice a year in Geneva, Switzerland, as well as meetings of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) Board. The committee also performs functions related to reviewing the implementation of disarmament resolutions by the UN Disarmament Office, the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, and the Security Council. In this role, Kim oversees and reports on complex issues such as the regional context of arms control, the interpretation of key treaty regimes, and the applicability of new technologies and military artificial intelligence to disarmament. Her activities have elevated the status of South Korea's diplomacy in the field of disarmament and align with the Lee Jae-myung administration's efforts to expand its foreign policy on multilateral platforms.

Policy advisory history and activities of various national institutions

Kim Jin-ah has served as a policy advisory committee member in various national institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Unification, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Air Force since the Moon Jae-in administration. In addition to submitting research reports, he has been involved in numerous informal meetings, strategic planning consultations, and the drafting of response scenarios, contributing to practical policy coordination. Since 2020, he has participated in meetings related to diplomatic policy trends and the cultivation of diplomatic talent as a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Policy Advisory Committee, and he provided advice on simulation work concerning the possibilities of resuming inter-Korean exchanges for the Ministry of Unification. Furthermore, he was appointed as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Committee in 2022, advising on the restoration of exchange channels at the local government level. Although his presence was not widely recognized during this period, he played a key role in many practical coordination processes.

Leadership in Cultural Diplomacy and Multilateral Policy Coordination

During the preparation for the 2025 APEC Summit, Deputy Minister Kim Jin-ah coordinated not only the layout of the meeting venue and the operation of the summit but also the planning of cultural diplomacy content. He led working meetings with cultural diplomacy advisory committees related to K-Pop performances, Korean food experiences, and traditional culture introduction events through the APEC Preparing Planning Team within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, Deputy Minister Kim was at the center of coordinating the agenda for the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM3) of APEC member countries. He prepared a detailed meeting operation plan by coordinating the overall meeting structure in advance, including preliminary bilateral consultations with practical representatives from member countries, forming an interpretation team, and matching agenda presenters. This work was a complex coordination effort aimed at achieving substantial diplomatic effects, not just simple publicity or ceremonial diplomacy.

Recognition of Expertise Beyond Political Power

Deputy Minister Kim Jin-ah has been recognized for his capabilities as a practical expert regardless of specific administrations. During the Moon Jae-in government, he was not appointed to a deputy ministerial or ministerial position, but he carried out various unofficial advisory roles in the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Unification, and the National Security Office of the Blue House. He provided policy advice based on expertise and neutrality and was evaluated as a centrist practical expert not inclined toward specific ideologies or lines. This became the foundation for his surprising appointment as Second Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs after the launch of the Lee Jae-myung government. Additionally, he has served as a professor in the LD department at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, conducting classes on international relations and diplomatic policy, along with guiding graduate theses and giving field lectures on public diplomacy.

Appointment as a Young and Unconventional Choice

On June 10, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung appointed Kim Jin-ah as the Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. At the time, Vice Minister Kim was 46 years old, making her one of the youngest among the high-ranking officials in the Foreign Ministry, and she garnered attention as a non-career civil servant. She is recognized as a practical expert with proven experience in various fields, and the Lee Jae-myung government appointed her considering her advisory activities at the United Nations and her military and diplomatic advisory background. Following the announcement of her appointment, media and diplomatic circles evaluated that "the appointment of a woman vice minister from outside the examination system is unusual." Vice Minister Kim quietly began her duties in the Foreign Ministry without a separate welcome message. Currently, she is active not only in official vice ministerial meetings within the Foreign Ministry but also leading delegations in multilateral diplomatic settings. Her continuous meetings with heads of UN agencies and her presentations at the International Development Finance Conference have been evaluated as broadening the scope of the role of the Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Expectations for a New Paradigm in Practical Diplomacy

During the recent APEC Comprehensive Review Meeting, Deputy Minister Kim Jin-a demonstrated a role that went beyond that of a mere presenter. The organization of the presentation, the accuracy of expression, emphasis on execution, and linkage to cultural diplomacy programs clearly showed that it was a briefing coordinated by a practitioner. He did not limit himself to a ceremonial report in front of the Prime Minister, but rather detailed the implementation status and necessary supplements from each department. This reflects an attitude of a practitioner that focuses on examining and verifying how diplomatic policies are being implemented on the ground, rather than simply designing and leading them. The current Lee Jae-myung administration is designing major international meetings and multilateral diplomacy strategies with a focus on deputy-level practitioners, and Deputy Minister Kim Jin-a plays a central role in this. His role is also expected in future gatherings such as the United Nations General Assembly, the Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP), and global digital governance meetings. He executes practical diplomacy prepared without error, with a quiet and composed demeanor. His attitude displayed on the international stage of APEC serves as a concrete example of what 'execution' means in diplomacy. There is growing interest in whether his initiatives within the Lee Jae-myung administration will continue and whether a new model of practical diplomacy can be consistently developed.