Who will lead S. Korea's new foreign policy, security teams?

President Lee Jae-myung attends a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Thursday. Joint Press Corps

President Lee Jae-myung is moving swiftly to assemble his foreign policy and national security teams, prompting widespread anticipation over the forthcoming nominations for the key ministerial positions of foreign affairs, unification and defense.

This week's crucial appointments — Wi Sung-lac, a former ambassador to Russia, as national security adviser, and Lee Jong-seok, a former unification minister, to lead the National Intelligence Service — signal the imminent unveiling of the president's full Cabinet. Observers suggest that the remaining selections are expected to be announced in the coming days, providing a clearer indication of the new administration's strategic direction in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.

Although no formal nominations have been made, names are surfacing from among seasoned foreign policy experts who advised Lee during his campaign or served in previous liberal administrations.

One of the leading candidates for foreign minister is Cho Hyun, a career diplomat who served as first vice foreign minister under the Moon Jae-in administration.

A seasoned diplomat with experience in both bilateral and multilateral negotiations, Cho was also an ambassador to the United Nations. He joined Lee's presidential campaign as a foreign policy adviser and is believed to have played a key role in shaping what Lee describes as a pragmatic foreign policy strategy.

Another strong contender for the post is Kim Hyun-chong, a trade specialist who served as chief trade negotiator under both the Roh Moo-hyun and Moon governments.

Former Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-chong speaks to reporters in Washington, May 9, following meetings with U.S. officials in his role as a foreign policy adviser to Lee Jae-myung’s presidential campaign. Yonhap

Kim spearheaded Korea's major trade negotiations, including the initial Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) and its renegotiation in 2018 under the first Donald Trump administration.

For the unification ministry, which oversees inter-Korean affairs, Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Rep. Chung Dong-young is being floated as a possible nominee.

The five-term lawmaker, who previously led the ministry under the Roh administration, is known for his negotiation-centered approach to North Korea. If appointed, Chung's return would mark a sharp contrast to the hardline North Korea policies pursued by the previous Yoon Suk Yeol government.

Under Yoon, the ministry shifted its focus to pressure-based tactics, highlighting the human rights violations of the Kim Jong-un regime. Lee, by contrast, has signaled a return to a dialogue-centered approach toward Pyongyang, emphasizing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

One of the most closely watched posts in Lee's Cabinet is the defense minister.

The Ministry of National Defense has been mired in public scrutiny following its central role in the Yoon administration's martial law declaration last December, which ultimately led to his impeachment.

Rep. Ahn Gyu-back of the Democratic Party of Korea attends a parliamentary audit on the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) at the JCS headquarters in Seoul, Oct. 10, 2024. Korea Times photo by Go Young-kwon

Then–Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, a close confidant of Yoon, was accused of masterminding the plan. The former four-star Army general is currently on trial facing insurrection charges.

During his campaign, Lee pledged to restore civilian oversight of the military, including appointing a civilian defense minister — breaking with more than six decades of tradition.

The post has historically been held by active-duty or recently retired generals, leading to what critics describe as a rigid chain of command and a lack of transparency in its operations.

Potential candidates for the defense chief include DPK Rep. Ahn Gyu-back, a former chair of the National Assembly's defense committee, and Kim Min-ki, the current secretary general of the Assembly.

In recent months, Ahn led the parliamentary committee investigating Yoon's martial law plan, acting as a vocal advocate for military reform.