15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Kim Jong-hwan Passes Away

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Kim Jong-hwan, retired Army General and the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away on the 23rd, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the 24th. He was 99 years old.

Born in 1923 in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, the late Kim graduated from the 4th class of the Korea Military Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in September 1947. He served as the commander of the 2nd Corps, commander of the Security Command, and commander of the 3rd Field Army. From December 1977 to December 1979, he served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, leading the military.

In recognition of his dedication to the country and the military, he received numerous awards including the Eulji Military Merit Medal, Chungmu Military Merit Medal, Hwarang Military Merit Medal, and the Order of National Security Merit, Tongil Medal. After his retirement, he served as Minister of the Interior from 1979 to 1980 and as President of the Veterans Association from 1982 to 1985. The funeral will be held as a Joint Chiefs of Staff funeral for four days starting from that day, with an interment ceremony scheduled at the National Seoul National Cemetery on the 26th.

He is survived by his wife, Son Jeong-ja, and four children (one son and three daughters). The funeral hall is set up at Gangnam St. Mary’s Hospital Funeral Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The family has expressed their wish to politely decline condolence money and floral tributes.