The new Defense Acquisition Program Administration Minister nominee Seok Jong-gun

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday tapped Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Seok Jong-gun as the new minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the presidential office announced Friday.

Seok will begin in the position on Monday, replacing Eom Dong-hwan, who has served since June 2022.

Yoon's office said in a statement that Seok is the right fit for the role of setting up coordinating structures between the government, military, DAPA and local defense industry.

The major general will also be tasked with enhancing the science and technology capacity of South Korea's military and boosting exports of the country's defense industry.

Seok, 57, was commissioned as an Army officer in 1989 after graduating from the Korea Military Academy. In 2020, he led the foundation of the South Korean Army's second Quick Response Division, dedicated to airborne operations. He was chief directorate of strategic planning for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2020 to 2023.

Yoon's office said Seok has experience in formulating future combat systems and reorganizing military units.