Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung on Monday announced his picks for key Cabinet positions, including foreign and defense ministers, the presidential office said. Lee named former First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun as his new foreign minister and five-term Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker Ahn Gyu-back as his defense minister.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho has an extensive diplomatic background, having served as both the first and second vice ministers under the Moon Jae-in government before taking on the role of South Korean ambassador to the United Nations from 2019 to 2022. His appointment as foreign minister comes as part of President Lee's strategic reshuffle of key government positions.
Ahn Gyu-back, a seasoned politician, has predominantly served on the defense subcommittee of the National Assembly. If confirmed, Ahn will make history as the first "civilian" defense minister since 1961, following former President Park Chung-hee's military coup. His appointment signals a potential shift in South Korea's defense strategy under civilian oversight.
In addition to these appointments, President Lee nominated Chung Dong-young, a journalist-turned-veteran DP lawmaker, as unification minister, overseeing inter-Korean affairs. Chung previously held the same position under the Roh Moo-hyun government from 2004 to 2005, bringing valuable experience to the role during a critical period for North and South Korean relations.