South Korea’s Moon replaces defence chief in cabinet reshuffle
Changes made as Moon’s approval ratings fall to a record low 56 per cent
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Moon has driven a rapid diplomatic rapprochement with nuclear-armed North Korea, but defence minister Song Young-moo came under fire for mishandling a controversy over a defence intelligence unit.
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In March, documents emerged detailing military plans to impose martial law against protesters demanding the ousting of Moon’s predecessor Park Geun-hye last year, but Song failed to report them to the presidential Blue House.
Moon named Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman and air force General Jeong Kyeong-doo to replace him.
It is normal for South Korean defence ministers to be former top military officers, Song was previously an admiral.
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It has since fallen to a record low of 56 per cent in a Realmeter survey last week amid mounting concerns over the economy.
Moon also named new ministers for education, industry, labour and gender equality in Thursday’s reshuffle.
