TheÃÂ Minister of National DefenseÃÂ () is the leader andÃÂ chief executiveÃÂ of theÃÂ Ministry of National Defense. The minister is responsible for implementing South Korea's National Defense policy.
The current acting Minister of National Defense isÃÂ Kim Seon-ho since 5 December 2024, after the previous minister, Kim Yong-hyun, suggested to president Yoon Suk Yeol on 3 December that he impose martial law, which failed and resulted in the resignation of the minister. The president has since nominated Choi Byung-hyuk to be the next minister of defense.