Huh Tae-geun Appointed as Director of Defense Policy, Yoo Mu-bong as Director of Defense Reform at the Ministry of National Defense

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop poses for a commemorative photo on the 9th at the Yongsan Ministry of National Defense building with Heo Tae-geun, newly appointed Director of Defense Policy (right in the photo), and Yoo Mu-bong, Director of Defense Reform (left in the photo).

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Huh Tae-geun, retired Army Brigadier General, has been appointed as the Director of Defense Policy at the Ministry of National Defense, and Yoo Mu-bong, retired Army Colonel, has been appointed as the Director of Defense Reform.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 9th, the newly appointed Director Huh Tae-geun graduated from the 45th class of the Korea Military Academy and has held key positions in U.S. affairs, North Korea affairs, and policy planning. He is recognized as a defense policy expert with extensive experience and insight across the defense sector, making him the optimal candidate for establishing and managing major defense policies. In particular, based on his experience as the head of the U.S. Policy Division, Deputy Director of Policy Planning, and Deputy Director of North Korean Nuclear Policy at the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry expects him to significantly contribute to the development of the ROK-U.S. military alliance and the strengthening of the Korea-type 3-axis system, advancing the ROK-U.S. 'tailored deterrence strategy.' The Director of Defense Policy is responsible for establishing and coordinating short- and mid-to-long-term defense policies, overseeing defense diplomacy and cooperation, wartime defense policies, and policies responding to North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

The newly appointed Director Yoo Mu-bong graduated from the 42nd class of the Korea Military Academy and has held important positions within the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and the Army. He is regarded as an expert with practical experience and knowledge across defense policy, operational planning, force enhancement, and military structure development, making him the optimal candidate to lead the core defense policy of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, Defense Innovation 4.0. In particular, based on his experience as the head of the Army Tiger 4.0 Integrated Planning Group at Army Headquarters, the Ministry stated that he will contribute to fostering a scientifically advanced military through AI and Defense Innovation 4.0. The Director of Defense Reform is responsible for establishing, coordinating, and controlling policies related to Defense Innovation 4.0, advancing defense science and technology policies including AI and manned-unmanned combined systems, and planning future military structures, playing a key role in the defense sector.