Nam Young-shin, the First ROTC Graduate Appointed as Army Chief of Staff... Personnel Changes for Five Generals (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] For the first time in the history of the founding of the army, a new Army Chief of Staff has been appointed from the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), not from the Korea Military Academy.

On the 21st, the Ministry of National Defense explained, "We focused solely on appointing outstanding talents with ability and character, breaking away from seniority, class, and origin," and "Nam Young-shin (58, ROTC Class 23), Ground Operations Command Commander, was appointed as the Army Chief of Staff, marking the first time in the founding history that an ROTC officer has been selected."

An ROTC officer becoming Army Chief of Staff is the first in 72 years since the army was established in 1948. It is the first time in 51 years that a non-Korea Military Academy graduate has become the head of the army since the first Korea Military Academy graduate chief in 1969. From the 19th Chief Seo Jong-cheol to the 48th Chief Seo Wook, Korea Military Academy graduates have monopolized the position without exception.

He, a ROTC Class 23 graduate from Dong-A University in Busan (class of 1981), holds special significance as the first ROTC graduate to become Army Chief of Staff since the founding of the army. From the 1st to the 18th chiefs, the position was held by graduates of the Military English School and former Japanese army officers, and even after the Korea Military Academy was established, from the 19th Chief Seo Jong-cheol (KMA Class 1) to the 48th, the position was continuously held by Korea Military Academy graduates.

He is one of seven generals in military history who rose to the rank of general from the ROTC. When he was a brigadier general, Nam served as commander of the 7th Airborne Special Forces Brigade of the Army Special Warfare Command (Special Forces), director of mobilization forces at the 2nd Operations Command, and head of the faculty at the Central Military Academy for Students. After being promoted to major general, he served as commander of the 3rd Division. Unusually, he was promoted directly to lieutenant general without serving a second major general position and was appointed commander of the Army Special Warfare Command in September 2017, rapidly advancing during the Moon Jae-in administration. This rapid promotion is seen as aligning with the government’s policy of distancing itself from Korea Military Academy graduates. From the 1st to the 18th chiefs, the position was held by graduates of the Military English School and former Japanese army officers, and even after the Korea Military Academy was established, from the 19th Chief Seo Jong-cheol (KMA Class 1) to the 48th, the position was continuously held by Korea Military Academy graduates.

In August 2018, when controversy arose over the Martial Law document of the Defense Security Command, Nam was reassigned as commander of the Defense Security Command, about a year after taking command of the Special Warfare Command. He led the disbandment of the Defense Security Command and established a new organization. He was evaluated as having successfully carried out the mission of disbanding the Defense Security Command and creating a new unit, and in April 2019, he was promoted to general and appointed commander of the Ground Operations Command.

The Ministry of National Defense also appointed Lee Sung-yong (56, Air Force Academy Class 34) as Air Force Chief of Staff and Chief of Strategic Planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Kim Seung-gyeom (57, Korea Military Academy Class 42) as Deputy Commander of the Combined Forces Command and Army Deputy Chief of Staff, Ahn Jun-seok (56, Korea Military Academy Class 43) as Ground Operations Command Commander and Secretary for Defense Reform at the Blue House, and Kim Jung-soo (57, Korea Military Academy Class 42) as 2nd Operations Command Commander and Chief of Staff of the Ground Operations Command. Lee Sung-yong has served as commander of the 10th Fighter Wing, director of planning and management at the Air Force Headquarters, and Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff. These appointments will be confirmed by the Cabinet meeting on the 22nd and appointed by President Moon Jae-in, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The Ministry of National Defense plans to carry out follow-up personnel changes at the lieutenant general level soon.