Seoul: Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Monday met troops who had been mobilized for former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid, his office said, in ongoing efforts to boost military morale.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ahn visited the 3rd Special Forces Brigade under the Army's Special Warfare Command earlier in the day, marking his first on-site inspection since taking office as defense minister last week. "I will take necessary measures so that special forces troops and other soldiers who were deployed for the martial law bid can concentrate on defending the country as they had, by restoring their stability and honor," he said.
The minister also reaffirmed his pledge to strengthen the civilian command of the military and rebuild it into one trusted by the people. Ahn, a five-term lawmaker, took office as the country's first civilian defense chief in 64 years after former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun stepped down over his suspected role in the wake of the brief martial law imposition on Dec. 3.