▲ Jung Bit-na, Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson
The Ministry of National Defense announced today (15th) that it has appointed Jung Bit-na (38), a former reporter for Yonhap News, as the new spokesperson.
Spokesperson Jung joined Yonhap News in 2011, working in the Korean Peninsula Department (currently the Foreign Affairs and Security Department), and the International Department. She covered the Ministry of National Defense from 2020 to 2022.
In September 2022, she was appointed as a correspondent in Brussels, where she covered the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Russia-Ukraine war until recently.
The Ministry of National Defense explained the reason for her appointment, stating that “as a defense correspondent with experience covering defense policy and the military, she possesses a deep understanding and insight into defense and security matters.”
They added, “The new spokesperson will faithfully serve as a bridge between the Ministry of National Defense, the media, and the public, effectively conveying defense policies in a manner that aligns with the public’s perspective. We anticipate that, based on her youthful journalistic acumen, she will actively communicate with the public and contribute to the restoration of trust in our military.”
This marks the third time a former journalist has been appointed as a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense.
Jung Bit-na is the second female spokesperson from a journalism background, following former spokesperson Choi Hyun-soo.
The appointment of a woman in her 30s as the spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense is considered a remarkable decision.
(Photo provided by Ministry of National Defense, Yonhap News)