Latest news with #AhnGyuBack
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
South Korean president names first civilian defence minister in over 60 years
South Korea's new leader has named a civilian defence chief for the first time in over six decades as he seeks to move the country on from his predecessor's disastrous attempt to impose martial law. President Lee Jae Myung nominated five-term liberal lawmaker Ahn Gyu Back as the defence minister, breaking with a tradition of appointing retired military generals. Mr Ahn, a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, has served on the National Assembly's defence committee and chaired a legislative panel that investigated the circumstances surrounding former president Yoon Suk Yeol 's botched martial law declaration. His appointment comes as prominent former defence officials, including former defence minister Kim Yong Hyun, face criminal trials over their roles in imposing martial law last December. Mr Ahn faces a legislative confirmation hearing but the process is likely to be a formality since the Democrats hold a comfortable majority in the National Assembly and legislative consent isn't required for Mr Lee to appoint him. If his nomination is approved, Mr Ahn will become the first civilian defence minister since the military coup of 1961 brought dictator Park Chung Hee to power. All of South Korea 's defence ministers since that coup have come from the military. The trend continued even after the country's democratisation in the late 1980s. "As the first civilian minister of defence in 64 years, he will be responsible for leading and overseeing the transformation of the military after its mobilisation in martial law," Kang Hoon Sik, the president's chief of staff, said, referring to Mr Ahn. The newly elected president also named lawmaker Chung Dong Young as the unification minister and Cho Hyun, the former permanent representative to the UN, as his foreign minister. Mr Cho served as Seoul's point person for relations with North Korea from 2004 to 2005. Kim Young Hoon, a railway driver and former president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, was nominated as labour minister. Mr Lee named 11 ministers on Monday as he worked to form a cabinet and staff his office. He took office earlier this month without a transition period as Mr Yoon had been ousted for breaching the duties of his office with the martial law decree.
CNA
6 hours ago
- Politics
- CNA
South Korea gets first civilian defence minister in 60 years
SEOUL: South Korea's government on Monday (Jun 23) appointed the country's first civilian defence minister in more than 60 years, after growing calls for stronger oversight of the military. It comes after a failed martial law attempt in December that led to the impeachment of ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol. Veteran lawmaker Ahn Gyu-back is "the first civilian to lead the ministry in 64 years", said presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik at a news conference on Monday. "He is expected to push reforms in the military, particularly in response to its involvement in the martial law," he added. During his election campaign, President Lee Jae Myung had promised to appoint a defence minister from the "civilian circle", responding to widespread public calls for control of the military in the wake of the martial law crisis. South Korea's former president Yoon was impeached and suspended by lawmakers over his Dec 3 attempt to subvert civilian rule, which saw armed soldiers deployed to parliament. Kim Yong-hyun, who served as defence minister under Yoon, has been under arrest since December and is currently on trial for insurrection, accused of recommending martial law to the former president and drafting the decree. Previous liberal administrations have attempted to appoint a "civilian" defence minister, but have failed to do so, many citing the growing threat of North Korea's nuclear programme. Ties between the two Koreas deteriorated under the hardline administration of the hawkish ex-president. They technically remain at war because the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. Lee has vowed to improve relations with the North and reduce tensions on the peninsula, halting the loudspeaker broadcasts Seoul had begun last year in response to a barrage of trash-filled balloons flown southward by Pyongyang. In response, a day after, North Korea stopped broadcasting strange and unsettling noises along the border which the ministry hailed as "a meaningful opportunity to ease inter-Korean military tensions and restore mutual trust".
NHK
8 hours ago
- Politics
- NHK
South Korean president nominates 11 new ministers
South Korean president Lee Jae-myung nominated new ministers on Monday. The country's presidential office announced Lee tapped 11 people for positions in his government. Cho Hyun was chosen as foreign minister. He previously served as first vice foreign minister as well as in multiple overseas diplomatic roles. The presidential office says Cho has broad experience in multi-lateral talks and knowledge of trade issues. Veteran politician Ahn Gyu-back was picked as defense minister. Local media say he is the first civilian to be nominated for that post in more than six decades. Chung Dong-young was nominated to serve another term as unification minister, a post he held from 2004 to 2005. The nominees will be appointed after hearings in the National Assembly.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
President Lee picks South Korea's first civilian defense chief in 64 years
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung nominated a five-term liberal lawmaker as defense minister Monday, breaking with a tradition of appointing retired military generals. The announcement came as several prominent former defense officials, including ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, face high-profile criminal trials over their roles in carrying out martial law last year under then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was indicted on rebellion charges and removed from office. Ahn Gyu-back, a lawmaker from Lee's Democratic Party, has served on the National Assembly's defense committee and chaired a legislative panel that investigated the circumstances surrounding Yoon's martial law decree. Yoon's authoritarian move involved deploying hundreds of heavily armed troops to the National Assembly and election commission offices in what prosecutors described as an illegal attempt to shut down the legislature and arrest political opponents and election officials. That sparked calls to strengthen civilian control over the military, and Lee promised during his election campaign to appoint a defense minister with a civilian background. Since a 1961 coup that brought military dictator Park Chung-hee to power, all of South Korea's defense ministers have come from the military — a trend that continued even after the country's democratization in the late 1980s. While Ahn will face a legislative hearing, the process is likely to be a formality, since the Democrats hold a comfortable majority in the National Assembly and legislative consent isn't required for Lee to appoint him. Among Cabinet appointments, Lee only needs legislative consent for prime minister, Seoul's nominal No. 2 job. 'As the first civilian Minister of National Defense in 64 years, he will be responsible for leading and overseeing the transformation of the military after its mobilization in martial law,' Kang Hoon-sik, Lee's chief of staff, said in a briefing. Ahn was among 11 ministers nominated by Lee on Monday, with longtime diplomat Cho Hyun selected as foreign minister and five-term lawmaker Chung Dong-young returning for another stint as unification minister — a position he held from 2004 to 2005 as Seoul's point man for relations with North Korea.
Arab News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
President Lee picks South Korea's first civilian defense chief in 64 years
SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung nominated a five-term liberal lawmaker as defense minister Monday, breaking with a tradition of appointing retired military generals. The announcement came as several prominent former defense officials, including ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, face high-profile criminal trials over their roles in carrying out martial law last year under then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was indicted on rebellion charges and removed from office. Ahn Gyu-back, a lawmaker from Lee's Democratic Party, has served on the National Assembly's defense committee and chaired a legislative panel that investigated the circumstances surrounding Yoon's martial law decree. Yoon's authoritarian move involved deploying hundreds of heavily armed troops to the National Assembly and election commission offices in what prosecutors described as an illegal attempt to shut down the legislature and arrest political opponents and election officials. That sparked calls to strengthen civilian control over the military, and Lee promised during his election campaign to appoint a defense minister with a civilian background. Since a 1961 coup that brought military dictator Park Chung-hee to power, all of South Korea's defense ministers have come from the military — a trend that continued even after the country's democratization in the late 1980s. While Ahn will face a legislative hearing, the process is likely to be a formality, since the Democrats hold a comfortable majority in the National Assembly and legislative consent isn't required for Lee to appoint him. Among Cabinet appointments, Lee only needs legislative consent for prime minister, Seoul's nominal No. 2 job. 'As the first civilian Minister of National Defense in 64 years, he will be responsible for leading and overseeing the transformation of the military after its mobilization in martial law,' Kang Hoon-sik, Lee's chief of staff, said in a briefing. Ahn was among 11 ministers nominated by Lee on Monday, with longtime diplomat Cho Hyun selected as foreign minister and five-term lawmaker Chung Dong-young returning for another stint as unification minister — a position he held from 2004 to 2005 as Seoul's point man for relations with North Korea.
