Minister

MINISTER

LEE, Yong Cheol

Minister Lee, Yong Cheol is the Minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) of the Republic of Korea (ROK).

In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing the extensive portfolio of DAPA including Force Improvement Programs, procurement of military supplies, and promotion of the defense industry.

Minister Lee graduated from Yonsei University in 1982 earning a bachelor’s degree in law. He passed the 31st National Bar Examination in 1989, and graduated the Judicial Research and Training Institute in 1992 as the 21st class.

Minister Lee served as the representative attorney of Pureun Joint Law Office in 1993 and Saegil Law Firm in 2000. He then was appointed as the Second Secretary for Civil Affairs and Secretary for Legal Affairs at the Office of the President of the ROK in 2003. In this capacity, he supported the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs in bolstering anti-corruption initiatives; undertaking judicial reforms; carrying out institutional overhaul of power institutions including the prosecution, police and the National Intelligence Agency (NIS); and overseeing legal affairs at the presidential office.

In 2005, Minister Lee became the Head of Defense Acquisition Reform Group at the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Head of DAPA Foundation Preparation Group. During his tenure, he led the initiatives of the government to bring sweeping changes to the existing defense acquisition procedures, and prepare for the establishment of DAPA by introducing new laws and regulations, and developing organizational, structural and budgetary arrangements for the new agency.

With the foundation of DAPA in 2006, Minister Lee became the inaugural Vice Minister of the first government organization that specializes in defense acquisition of the ROK.

After almost a year-long service as the Vice Minister, he left DAPA to serve as the attorney of Saegil Law Firm. He then became the president of the Seongnam Industry Promotion Agency in 2011 where he led efforts to provide comprehensive support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and venture businesses of Seongnam city. Minister Lee continued to practice law after being appointed as a notary public in 2015.

Mr. Lee made his return to DAPA after becoming the Minister of DAPA on November 17, 2025.

Minister of Defense Acquisition Program Administration Mr. LEE, Yong Cheol