Outgoing defense minister feels ‘heavyhearted’ over ‘achievements, shortcomings’ after reshuffle Ahn Gyu-back, the first defense chief without military officer pedigree, is leaving the Cabinet with President Lee Jae Myung's shake-up. 2026.8.31
Lee turns to a general for defense minister a year after nonofficer experiment The pivot to Ret. Gen. Kang Shin-chul comes as the Blue House gears up for contentious drives to reclaim Opcon and merge the military academies. 2026.8.30
North Korea has 80 to 120 nuclear weapons, 'somewhat different' to Trump's 57: Defense minister In a parliamentary hearing, Ahn Gyu-back cited a higher number while affirming Seoul's stance on not recognizing Pyongyang as a nuclear state. 2026.8.20
Korea's human rights commission calls for better support for troops with special dietary needs The commission urged the Defense Ministry to improve catering after finding that enlistees with specific requirements were not given appropriate meals. 2026.7.22
Why rush to merge military academies? (KOR) Korea’s plan to combine its three military academies into one campus is moving ahead despite doubts about specialized training, feasibility and political motives. 2026.7.16
Why rush to merge military academies? Korea’s plan to combine its three military academies into one campus is moving ahead despite doubts about specialized training, feasibility and political motives. 2026.7.15
South Korea looks to outsource military base security to private firms as man power drops Facing troop shortages, the Defense Ministry is studying whether private security firms can take over rear-area base duties despite concerns over leaks, infiltration and legal accountability. 2026.7.12
Military academy alumni unite against merger, relocation plan About 2,000 alumni, parents and veterans gathered at the National Assembly to oppose the proposed integration and relocation of Korea’s military academies. 2026.7.8
Gov't to dismantle counterintelligence command that played martial law role, disperse its powers The government will break up Defense Counterintelligence Command, the military unit tied to Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law, and shift its powers to new and existing agencies under tighter oversight. 2026.6.10
Army rescinds 33 commendations linked to 1980 pro-democracy crackdown The Army said Tuesday it has revoked 33 commendations that were awarded to soldiers in the name of an Army chief for their roles in a bloody crackdown during the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju. 2026.5.19
![The emblem of the Ministry of National Defense is shown in this undated file photo. [YONHAP NEWS TV]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12591348.jpg?imageId=12591348&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)