New defense minister holds introductory meeting following predecessor's session with Steel

'Will strengthen alliance through close communication'

Defense Minister Kang Sin-cheol shakes hands with US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel at the Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday. [Ministry of National Defense]
Defense Minister Kang Sin-cheol shakes hands with US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel at the Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday. [Ministry of National Defense]

Defense Minister Kang Sin-cheol met with US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel on the second day of his tenure, with the two sides discussing key bilateral issues including the transfer of wartime operational control and the relocation of the Gwangju military air base. Steel, who had previously met with former Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek on Sept. 3, returned to the ministry 20 days later for her first meeting with the new minister.

The Ministry of National Defense said Kang received Steel at the ministry building Wednesday morning and exchanged views on the regional security situation and major alliance issues.

Kang welcomed Steel's visit, saying he "deeply empathizes with the weight of responsibility that comes with the role of ambassador," having served as South Korea's ambassador to Saudi Arabia himself. He asked Steel to serve as a strong bridge of trust and cooperation between the two countries. Kang had served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia since January before being appointed defense minister.

"The ROK-US alliance has developed into a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance that contributes to the shared prosperity of both nations and to peace and stability in the region, built on a solid security foundation," Kang said. "We will continue to strengthen the alliance through close communication and cooperation."

Steel said she would "do her utmost to maintain and further develop the solid ROK-US alliance even amid an uncertain security environment."

The two sides also discussed key issues including the operational control transfer and the Gwangju military air base, and agreed to maintain close communication in pursuit of a future-oriented and mutually beneficial alliance. The ministry did not disclose the specifics of those discussions.

The operational control transfer was the first issue Kang raised upon taking office. Speaking at his inauguration Tuesday, he said, "Since an alliance always involves a partner, trust matters more than conditions," adding that "a system in which a Korean commander leads, supported by a strong US military, would actually be more powerful."

Kang also said he is coordinating a visit to the United States to meet US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ahead of the Security Consultative Meeting in November. The government aims to determine a target year for the transfer — the so-called "Year X" — by the end of this year. However, a gap remains between the two sides, with South Korea pushing for a transfer within the current presidential term and the United States insisting that conditions be met first.

Also notable was that the Gwangju military air base was formally raised as an agenda item in a meeting between the defense minister and the US ambassador.

The Gwangju military air base is one of five combined operating bases designated for US Air Force reinforcement in the event of a contingency. Under SOFA, approximately 742,000 square meters have been provided for US military use. To accelerate the development of a national semiconductor industrial complex on the site, the government plans to temporarily redistribute the functions of the 1st Fighter Wing to other bases by mid-2028, and is pursuing the early return of the US-designated land.

However, the two sides differ on procedure. The Defense Ministry wants to handle the Gwangju base separately and move quickly. The United States, by contrast, is said to favor concluding a comprehensive relocation agreement covering all five COBs — Daegu, Gwangju, Cheongju, Gimhae and Suwon — a framework it has pursued since 2020.

The Defense Ministry has said it would be difficult to meet the relocation timeline through a comprehensive agreement requiring National Assembly approval, and that it is pursuing a separate track of consultations between the military authorities of the two countries.

Steel, who took up her post in late July, has been holding a series of meetings with officials across the diplomatic, trade and security sectors. A meeting with the prime minister was also scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.


rimsclub@heraldcorp.com