South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung has tapped five-term lawmaker Ahn Gyu-back to become minister of defence, the first time since 1961 that the role will be occupied by a civilian instead of a retired general.
Ahn, a senior member of the ruling Democratic Party, is a member of the National Assembly’s defense committee and had led the probe that broke down former president Yoon Suk-yeol’s failed bid to declare martial law in December. His appointment marks Lee’s insistence to distance his government from Yoon’s tainted record and bring in sweeping reforms of a military still shaken by the episode.
While Ahn will have to face a parliamentary confirmation hearing, his approval should be rapid. The Democrats control a commanding majority, and the constitution gives the president the authority to complete cabinet appointments without an official vote. If Ahn assumes office, he will be the first civilian defense chief since the coup that installed strongman Park Chung-hee 64 years ago. All defence ministers since the coup have dressed in a military uniform even after South Korea became a democracy in the late 1980s.
“As the first civilian defence minister in over six decades, he will be charged with guiding the military during an era of fundamental change after they were mobilised under martial law,” presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said to journalists.
Lee, sworn in earlier this month without an interim period following Yoon’s removal, also appointed a number of other important positions. Experienced politician Chung Dong-young was named unification minister, veteran diplomat Cho Hyun a past UN ambassador was named foreign minister, and union activist Kim Young-hoon was named to lead the labour ministry.
Together, Lee made public 11 cabinet nominees on Monday as he hastens to firm up his administration and reform institutions shaken by Yoon’s failed martial-law edict and criminal prosecutions currently faced by multiple former defence officials.