First Civilian Defense Chief: Breaking from the tradition of appointing retired military generals as defense minister, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday named Ahn Gyu-back, a five-term liberal lawmaker from the Democratic Party, to the post. Lee announced a wave of high-profile criminal trials involving several former defense officials, including ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun. Authorities are prosecuting these officials for their roles in enforcing martial law under former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted from office after being indicted on charges of rebellion.

Ahn previously led a legislative commission that investigated the circumstances surrounding Yoon’s martial law order. He also served on the National Assembly’s defense committee, where he gained a reputation for advocating civilian oversight of the military. Prosecutors revealed that during Yoon’s authoritarian crackdown, heavily armed troops stormed the National Assembly and election commission offices. They described the move as an illegal attempt to dissolve the legislature and arrest election officials and political opponents.

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Lee’s Campaign Pledge & Breaking Traditions:

During his election campaign, President Lee promised to appoint a defense minister with a civilian background. He made this pledge in response to growing calls for stronger civilian control over the military. Since the 1961 coup that brought military dictator Park Chung-hee to power, South Korea had appointed only military officials as defense ministers. This pattern continued even after the country’s democratization in the late 1980s. On Monday, President Lee kept his promise. He appointed 11 ministers, including Ahn Gyu-back, as South Korea’s new Minister of National Defense. Ahn became the first civilian to hold the post in 64 years.

Legislative Hearing Expected to Be Routine

Although Ahn must attend a legislative hearing, officials expect the process to be a formality. Lee holds the power to appoint ministers without legislative approval, except for the prime minister. The Democratic Party’s strong majority in the National Assembly further simplifies the appointment. Lee’s chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, confirmed Ahn’s key role in transforming the military. “As the first civilian defense minister in over six decades, Ahn will lead and oversee the military’s transformation after years of martial law mobilization,” Kang stated. President Lee also named longtime diplomat Cho Hyun as the new foreign minister. Additionally, he brought back five-term lawmaker Chung Dong-young as unification minister. Chung previously served in that role from 2004 to 2005, leading Seoul’s negotiations with North Korea.

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