South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung named veteran lawmaker Ahn Gyu-back because the nation’s first civilian Defence Minister in 64 years on Monday (June 23, 2025), making good on a marketing campaign promise made after December’s martial legislation shook religion in the navy.
Mr. Lee, who took workplace on June 4 after successful a snap election referred to as when former President Yoon Suk Yeol was eliminated from workplace over the martial legislation try, additionally named 10 different Cabinet Ministers together with former U.N. ambassador Cho Hyun as (*64*) Minister and a North Korea diplomacy advocate, Chung Dong-young, as Unification Minister, his workplace stated.
Mr. Yoon’s Defence Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, performed a number one position in recommending and planning the martial legislation, and is in jail amid an ongoing trial on riot expenses.
The nominations, which don’t require parliamentary approval however can be reviewed in at-times contentious hearings, come as Mr. Lee works to type a brand new cupboard and workers his workplace.
He took workplace the day after the election and not using a transition interval, as Yoon was ousted in April for breaching the duties of his workplace with December’s martial legislation declaration , which he reversed after parliament defied him.
Mr. Lee has labored with an appearing Prime Minister and a cupboard carried over from Yoon’s administration as he tackles the job of uniting a bitterly divided nation and formulating a response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariffs.
He has pledged to pursue diplomacy pillared on pragmatism with a give attention to assist for the export-heavy financial system’s international corporations in the fields of vehicles, semiconductors and steelmaking.
Earlier this month he named a long-term member of parliament and a key political ally, Kim Min-seok, to be his prime minister, a publish that requires parliamentary approval.
Mr. Lee on Monday (June 23, 2025) additionally nominated new Ministers for Agriculture, Environment, Labour and Maritime Affairs, amongst others.
