South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has named Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Gyu-back as his nominee for Minister of National Defense, marking a historic shift in the country's security leadership. If confirmed, Ahn would become South Korea’s first civilian defense minister in over six decades.
Ahn, a four-term member of the National Assembly, has built his political career with a strong focus on defense policy, serving extensively on the parliamentary subcommittee overseeing military affairs. His nomination signals a potential change in civil-military dynamics, as South Korea continues to modernize its security institutions.
According to Yonhap News, Ahn’s appointment would break a longstanding precedent dating back to 1961, when military officers began dominating the Defense Ministry following the coup led by Park Chung-hee. Since then, defense ministers have overwhelmingly come from military backgrounds, even as South Korea transitioned into a full democracy in the 1980s.
President Lee, who took office on June 3 after winning a snap election triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, announced a slate of cabinet picks on Monday, nearly three weeks into his presidency. Alongside Ahn, former Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun was named to lead the Foreign Ministry, and veteran politician Chung Dong-young was nominated as Unification Minister.
Chung previously served in the same post during the Roh Moo-hyun administration in 2004–2005 and is expected to play a key role in shaping inter-Korean engagement under the new administration.
All cabinet nominees are subject to parliamentary confirmation hearings before taking office.
