New S. Korean Defence Minister Following Fiasco

FOLLOWING the short-lived martial law declaration fiasco in South Korea, a new defence minister has been named to lead the republic’s Ministry of National Defense (MND).

Choi Byung-hyuk, a former four-star general from the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) and currently serving as ambassador to Saudi Arabia was nominated to head the ministry following the resignation of his predecessor, Kim Yong-hyun who had just taken over the top job this past August. Kim has been detained for a prosecutorial investigation. The MND’s vice minister Kim Seon-ho has been acting defence minister.

Choi is a graduate of the Korea Military Academy, previously serving in various capacities including commander of the 5th Army Corps, vice chief of staff of the Army before attaining his fourth star in April 2019. He then went on the serve as deputy commander of the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command until September 2020. In December 2023, he was appointed as the South Korean ambassador to Saudi Arabia.During the 2022 presidential election, he aided President Yoon Suk Yeol’s campaign for defence pledges alongside Kim Yong-hyun.

In the aftermath of the martial law declaration, three military commanders involved in the move were suspended, chief of the Capital Defense Command Lt Gen Lee Jin-woo, chief of the Army Special Warfare Command Lt Gen Kwak Jong-keun, and Counterintelligence Commander Lt Gen Yeo In-hyung have been transferred to other units, the ministry said in a notice to reporters. Another statement stated that a total of 10 military leaders facing charges of treason, including the aforementioned three were hit with a travel ban.-shp/adj/dl (Pix:USFK)