Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Combined Forces Command deputy commander Kim Seung-kyum·Ground Operations Command commander Ahn Joon-seok·Second Operations Command commander Kim Jeong-su

Ministry of National Defense’s reshuffle on general-level personnel  
“Capabilities and expertise in the promotion of national defense policies the first consideration”
Nominee Nam is equipped with outstanding capabilities in the areas of operational command and organization management
Nominee Lee is an expert in combined·air operational command

The Ministry of National Defense announced a reshuffle of general-level personnel, including Army chief of staff and Air Force chief of staff, Combined Forces Command deputy commander, Land Operations Command commander, and Second Operations Command commander.

The ministry made the announcement on September 21. “Rather than a conventional reshuffle based on rank, enlistment sequence, graduation, and the like, this reshuffle was conducted focusing on the appointment of excellent personnel equipped with the abilities and character required of general level staff. Specifically, Ground Operations Command chief General Nam Yeong-shin was chosen as the new Army chief of staff, marking the first time that a general hailing from the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) has risen to the Army's top job since its founding,” a ministry spokesperson said.

This reshuffle first considered the capabilities and expertise to further systematically and substantially push for the main national defense policies, such as defense reform, the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), and the innovation of the barracks culture.

Nominee for Army Chief of Staff Commander Nam is an expert in the education and training area as well as field operations, having held a number of posts in succession, including Military Security Assistance Command commander, Unconventional Warfare Task Forces commander, and Army’s 3rd Division commander, since his graduation from the 23rd ROTC. He is well-known for having outstanding capabilities in the areas of operational command and organization management. Most significantly, he was nominated as the new Army Chief of Staff because he has the strong trust of his senior and junior co-workers thanks to his sociability and humanity, as well as being equipped with strict self-discipline, dedication, and outstanding field operations capabilities.

Nam was commissioned in the same year as the Minister of National Defense Suh Wook. He served as the Land Operations Command commander when Minister Suh was the Army Chief of Staff. Regarding this commonality, a ministry spokesperson explained “The 31st Minister of National Defense Lee Byeong-tae and the 30th Army Chief of Staff Kim Dong-jin, who joined the army at the same time, worked together for about one year in 1993. Commander Nam served as commander of the Land Operations Command when Minister Suh was the Army Chief of Staff. Even at that time, the two worked well with each other.”

The nominee for Air Force Chief of Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff strategic planning director Lee Seong-yong (Lt. Gen.), who has held a number of different posts in succession since his graduation from the 34th Air Force Academy, including Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Deputy Chief of Staff for planning and management, is an expert in the areas of combined operations and strategy. He is known for his capabilities in air operational command and his expertise in the enhancement of defense capability. Specifically, he is trusted and respected by his seniors and juniors due to his detail-oriented approach to his work, as well as his outstanding organization management capabilities, and his gregarious personality.

This reshuffle also included Army Vice Chief of Staff Kim Seung-kyum (Lt. Gen., 42nd Korea Military Academy) being named as the new Combined Forces Command deputy commander, Presidential Secretary for National Defense Reform Ahn Joon-seok (Lt. Gen., 43rd Korea Military Academy) being named as the new Ground Operations Command commander, and Land Operations Command chief of staff Kim Jeong-su (Lt. Gen., 42nd Korea Military Academy) being named as the new Second Operations Command commander. Commander-in-chief of the armed forces President Moon Jae-in will officially appoint them following a Cabinet meeting on September 22.

“Through the reshuffle, the military will maintain our firm defense readiness posture while militarily supporting the denuclearization of and the establishment of a lasting peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. The military will do its best to create strong forces that are trusted by the people by accomplishing its mission to protect the lives and safety of the people against non-traditional threats, such as COVID-19,” a ministry spokesperson said.

By Chae-Mu, Im <lims86@dema.mil.kr >

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