South Korea’s Lee names first civilian defence minister in decades

The nominations, which do not require parliamentary approval but will be reviewed in at-times contentious hearings, come as Lee works to form a new cabinet and staff his office.

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung named veteran lawmaker Ahn Gyu-back as the country’s first civilian defence minister in 64 years on Monday, making good on a campaign promise made after December’s martial law shook faith in the military.