[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] President Yoon Suk-yeol has appointed Kim Seung-gyeom, Deputy Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, as the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, marking the first general officer-level personnel reshuffle since the government took office. It is considered unusual to carry out a large-scale personnel change replacing the entire military leadership in less than a month after the government’s inauguration. This move is interpreted as reflecting President Yoon’s intention to quickly replace some military leaders who were controversial for political alignment during the Moon Jae-in administration and to launch a new military leadership selected primarily on merit. Analysts also note that the appointment reflects the new administration’s commitment to strengthening the ROK-US alliance alongside favoring graduates from the Korea Military Academy.
Kim Seung-gyeom (KMA Class 42, photo), nominated as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is an expert in combined and joint operations, highly regarded for his operational command capabilities and crisis management skills. After the Cabinet meeting on the 26th and a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, President Yoon, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will appoint him to the position. If confirmed as the 43rd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Kim will be the first KMA graduate to hold the post in nine years.
Personnel changes were also made for the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Park Jeong-hwan (56, KMA Class 44), Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was appointed Army Chief of Staff; Lee Jong-ho (57, Korea Naval Academy Class 42), Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Military Support Headquarters, was appointed Navy Chief of Staff; and Jeong Sang-hwa (58, Korea Air Force Academy Class 36), Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategic Planning Headquarters, was appointed Air Force Chief of Staff. All three Chiefs of Staff are from the same class year. The replacement of the Navy Chief of Staff, who was appointed less than six months ago, and the Air Force Chief of Staff, who took office in July last year, appears to be aimed at balancing seniority among the classes.
Additionally, An Byeong-seok (55, KMA Class 45), Army Deputy Chief of Staff, was appointed Deputy Commander of the Combined Forces Command; Jeon Dong-jin (KMA Class 45), Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Operations Headquarters, was appointed Commander of the Ground Operations Command; and Shin Hee-hyeon (Bachelor’s Degree Class 27), Commander of the 3rd Corps, was appointed Commander of the 2nd Operations Command. Major General Hwang Yu-seong served as acting Commander of the Military Security Support Command.
The Ministry of National Defense stated, "We prioritized capabilities and expertise that can systematically and substantively promote key defense policies such as establishing a robust defense posture, defense innovation, and improvement of defense culture."
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