Yuksa Principal Kwon Young-ho
Special Forces Commander Son Sik
Army Public Relations and Training Director Moon Hong-sik
Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan, Special Forces Commander Son Sik, Naval Academy Superintendent Hwang Seon-woo [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The government has carried out a major general promotion personnel reshuffle for the second half of the year, including the sudden replacement of the Marine Corps Commandant who has about six months left until the end of his two-year term.
According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 30th, Kim Gye-hwan (Naval Academy Class 44), the Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps, has been nominated for promotion to Marine Corps Commandant.
The current Commandant, Kim Tae-seong, who was appointed in April last year during the Moon Jae-in administration, has a term until April 13 next year but will step down without completing the remaining six months of his two-year term. The current Military Personnel Act states that "the term of the Marine Corps Commandant shall be two years."
This personnel reshuffle consisted of promotions below the rank of lieutenant general and appointments to key positions.
Army Major Generals Kang Ho-pil, Kwon Young-ho, and Son Sik are set to be promoted and appointed as Corps Commander, Superintendent of the Korea Military Academy, and Commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, respectively. Navy Captain Hwang Seon-woo will be promoted and appointed as Superintendent of the Naval Academy.
Thirteen Army Brigadier Generals including Kang Gwan-beom, two Navy Rear Admirals including Kang Jeong-ho, two Marine Corps Brigadier Generals including Jeong Jong-beom, and five Air Force Brigadier Generals including Kim Jung-ho will be promoted to Major General and appointed to key positions such as division commanders.
Principal of the Korea Military Academy Kang Ho-pil · Director of Army Public Relations and Information Office Moon Hong-sik [Photo by Yonhap News]
The Ministry of National Defense explained that 78 officers including 54 Army Colonels such as Kang Byung-mu, 9 Navy Captains such as Kim Ji-hoon, 2 Marine Corps Colonels such as Kwon Tae-gyun, and 13 Air Force Colonels such as Kim Yong-jae will be promoted to Brigadier General and appointed to positions.
Colonel Moon Hong-sik is expected to be promoted to Brigadier General and appointed as the Director of the Army Public Affairs and Psychological Operations Office.
The Ministry of National Defense stated, "This personnel reshuffle focused on selecting outstanding individuals with a strong sense of national duty and security, capable of conducting joint and combined operations, and appointing excellent talents with ability, qualifications, and high morality. Priority was given to those who have earned strong trust from seniors, juniors, and colleagues by diligently fulfilling their original duties."
It added, "In particular, through 'Defense Innovation 4.0,' we redesigned the defense posture to strive for a technologically advanced military and considered personnel with expertise capable of systematically implementing major defense policies, as well as suitable candidates in fields such as Defense AI (Artificial Intelligence), the Korean-style 3-axis system, and digital cyber response capabilities."
The Ministry emphasized, "Taking this personnel reshuffle as an opportunity, we will maintain an unwavering and firm military readiness posture despite continuous provocations and security threats, protect the lives and safety of the people, and fulfill our role and responsibility as the reliable guardian of the Republic of Korea by carrying out our original mission."
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