Prolonged Vacancy in the Minister of National Defense Position [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Candidate Choi declines minister position... Rep. Han Giho also deliberates
Outcome of President Yoon's impeachment vote on the 14th is a variable

The vacancy period for the Minister of National Defense is lengthening. As the nominee for the Minister of National Defense has declined the position, it is expected that the first-ever acting minister system since the founding of the armed forces will continue for the time being. Currently, Vice Minister Kim Seon-ho is serving as the acting minister.

Kim Sun-ho Acting Minister of National Defense Yonhap News

Initially, President Yoon Seok-yeol nominated Choi Byeong-hyeok, currently serving as the ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as the successor to former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun. However, Choi, a retired four-star general who graduated from the Korea Military Academy, recently declined the nomination.

After Choi declined the ministerial position, President Yoon proposed the role to Han Ki-ho, a member of the People Power Party and a former three-star general. A government official stated, "As of the 12th, we understand that Representative Han is still considering the offer," adding, "We will have to wait and see what the final decision will be." Representative Han, a retired three-star general, is regarded within the party as a senior lawmaker with a neutral stance, not aligned with either the pro-Yoon or pro-Han factions. However, given the intensified aftermath of the emergency martial law situation, he inevitably feels the burden.

If a candidate for Minister of National Defense cannot be found, the acting minister system will have to be maintained. Traditionally, when a successor minister is nominated, the predecessor performs duties until the new minister takes office after a confirmation hearing. Especially since the Ministry of National Defense is directly linked to national security, this tradition has been upheld.

There is also a variable: the vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon scheduled for the 14th. Depending on the outcome, the military command system could be further destabilized. If the impeachment motion passes, Prime Minister Han Deok-soo will assume the command of the armed forces. However, if the opposition’s proposed impeachment motion against the Prime Minister is also passed, it is expected that either Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Lee Ju-ho or Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok will take over military command. If the presidential impeachment motion is rejected, President Yoon will retain command of the armed forces, but the appointment of the Minister of National Defense and subsequent senior military personnel appointments are likely to become another ‘line personnel’ issue. Even if the president remains in office but is arrested or detained, there is no clear consensus within the military on whether the command of the armed forces will be maintained, which is expected to cause confusion.

A military official said, "Generals such as Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, who served as martial law commander, have been successively excluded from their duties," adding, "With key commanders also vacant, we are worried about how to respond if North Korea provokes."