In a mark of how important South Korea regards the relationship with Australia, their next Ambassador will be former Defence Minister Jong-sup Lee. A graduate of the Korean Military Academy, Minister Lee completed a PhD in the US before rising to the rank of Lieutenant-General in the Army of the Republic of Korea. He was Defense Minister from May 2022 until October 2023.
Born in 1960, during his distinguished military career, he held a number of senior positions, including:
- Assistant Secretary to the President for Foreign Affairs and National Security, Office of the President;
- Special Advisor for Defense Policy to the Director, National Intelligence Service;
- Deputy Director General for Policy Planning Bureau, Ministry of National Defense (MND)
- Commander, 2nd Infantry Division, RoK Army
- Commander, 7th Mechanised Corps, RoK Army
- Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
To describe Minister Lee as a high flier seems something of an understatement. His career has been characterised by a very close working relationship with the US and a spirit of enhanced military cooperation between those two countries.
His appointment as Ambassador to Australia comes at a time of a rapidly growing security dynamic between the two countries. Not only has Korea’s Hanwha won large contracts with the Australian Army for ‘Huntsman’ Self-Propelled Howitzers and ‘Redback’ Infantry Fighting Vehicles but its naval subsidiary has been shortlisted for the future light frigate requirement.
Other South Korean companies have a number of future commercial opportunities, such as the sale of the FA/50 series trainer/light attack supersonic jets to replace the RAAF’s ageing Hawk fleet.
Probably of greater consequence is the broader strategic environment and closer cooperation between Australia and South Korea on several fronts. The RoK is neither a member of the Quad nor the Five Eyes community, but its foreign policy alignment and military punch makes it the perfect adjunct to those existing relationships.
Minister Lee brings a wealth of military and foreign policy experience with him that will be very welcome in Canberra.
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