Key facts
- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back is stepping down following a Cabinet reshuffle.
- Ahn, the country's first civilian defense chief, served for over a year.
- President Lee Jae Myung nominated retired Army Gen. Kang Shin-chul as the new defense minister.
- Ahn's tenure included efforts to retake wartime operational control and merge military academies.
- Ahn faced scrutiny over his military service records, specifically an eight-month discrepancy.
- Ahn denied allegations of misconduct during his military service.
Outgoing Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back expressed 'mixed' feelings about his tenure as South Korea's first civilian defense chief, as he prepares to step down following a Cabinet reshuffle. Ahn, a five-term lawmaker, was appointed defense minister shortly after President Lee Jae Myung took office in June last year.
President Lee has nominated retired Army Gen. Kang Shin-chul, former deputy commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, to succeed Ahn. Ahn reflected on his time in office, stating, 'As the first civilian defense minister, I think I have both my share of achievements and shortcomings.' He added, 'I truly feel heavyhearted, and I can hardly hold back how I feel.'
During his tenure, Ahn led significant initiatives, including Seoul's efforts to regain wartime operational control from the United States and the consolidation of three military academies into one institution. However, he recently faced considerable opposition regarding the military academy merger plan.
Furthermore, Ahn has been under scrutiny concerning his military service records from the early 1980s. Allegations have surfaced that he was absent without leave and served time in a military detention facility, leading to questions about an eight-month discrepancy between his initial discharge and total service period. Ahn has denied these claims, attributing the gap to an administrative error and a required makeup service period. He indicated that he would have an opportunity to explain the details to lawmakers after stepping down.