Breaking with more than six decades of military tradition, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday nominated a civilian lawmaker as defense minister. The move marks a significant shift toward increased civilian oversight of the military, following a controversial period of political unrest.
Ahn Gyu-back, a five-term legislator from President Lee’s Democratic Party, has been chosen for the role. He has previously served on the National Assembly’s defense committee and led a panel investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law.
This nomination follows a wave of criminal prosecutions involving former military leaders, including ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun. They face charges related to the enforcement of martial law under Yoon, who was removed from office after being indicted on rebellion charges. Yoon’s decree, seen as an authoritarian overreach, deployed heavily armed troops to government buildings in an alleged attempt to suppress democratic institutions and arrest opposition figures.
In response, President Lee had pledged during his campaign to reinforce democratic control over the military by appointing a civilian defense minister. Since the 1961 military coup that brought Park Chung-hee to power, every South Korean defense minister has come from a military background—even after the country transitioned to democracy in the late 1980s.
Although Ahn will undergo a legislative hearing, the process is expected to be symbolic. The Democratic Party holds a strong majority in parliament, and only the prime minister appointment requires formal legislative approval.
Lee’s chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, highlighted the significance of the appointment, stating, “As the first civilian Minister of National Defense in 64 years, he will be responsible for leading and overseeing the transformation of the military following its involvement in martial law.”
Ahn’s nomination was part of a broader Cabinet reshuffle announced Monday. Veteran diplomat Cho Hyun was tapped to serve as foreign minister, and Chung Dong-young, a five-term lawmaker and former unification minister from 2004 to 2005, was reappointed to lead inter-Korean affairs once again.
Also Read:
Greece Mobilizes Largest Firefighting Force and Expands Drone Fleet for Wildfire Season
