Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
S. Korea has new defense chief at crucial time
Outgoing minister leaves with much to be desired
By Lee Min-hyung
Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo
By Lee Min-hyung
Jeong Kyeong-doo, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), took office Friday as the nation's new minister of defense amid mounting security uncertainties despite North Korea's rare gestures for reconciliation.
Upon his appointment, outgoing defense chief Song Young-moo left office, ending his 14-month tenure.
The appointment came a day after Song arrived in Seoul, Thursday, finishing his job as defense chief by accompanying President Moon Jae-in on his three-day summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang.
Jeong will immediately be involved in a series of hectic defense meetings at a time when the two Koreas have reached military agreements outlining joint efforts to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula following the summit.
“The peninsula is standing at a critical juncture amid calls to resolve the North's nuclear issues and build lasting peace here,” Jeong said. “I have a heavy heart in leaving the JCS, but as minister of defense, will continue to join forces with the JCS to tighten our readiness.”
On Wednesday, Song and his northern counterpart No Kwang-chol agreed to fulfill a bilateral pledge to stop any military conflict and bring complete denuclearization to the peninsula.
Jeong is expected to extend the ongoing peace mood here and help President Moon continue to serve as a mediator for denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang.
The new minister passed a National Assembly confirmation hearing Wednesday. According to a report from the Assembly Defense Committee, he has fulfilled his military missions for decades without being involved in any scandals.
Jeong started his military career in the 1980s at the Air Force Academy. He has since taken on major posts such as chief of staff of the Air Force.
In August last year, he took office as the JCS chairman. Last month, the Moon Jae-in administration nominated Jeong to be the new minister.
Park Han-ki, the Army's commander of the second operational command, will take over as JCS head.
The change of the defense chief comes amid a recent reshuffle and is a reflection of the former minister's continuous involvement in scandals including making unnecessary and offensive public comments disparaging women.
On top of that, Song has in recent months come under harsh criticism for failing to properly handle the aftermath of the military's political scandals. They include a plan to have imposed martial law to possibly quell candlelit protests last year.
Even if Song was not the mastermind behind the scandals, he was criticized for failing to exert strong leadership to resolve them in a timely manner.
Song urged Jeong to continue to maintain military readiness even at a time when the two Koreas are in a mood for reconciliation.
“Our armed forces should always enhance defense readiness to protect the public, while at the same time be open to a new era of peace by enhancing inter-Korean trust,” Song said.