Jin Youngseung Appointed as First Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Under Lee Administration ... All Seven Active Four-Star Generals Excluded

The first major general officer appointments have been made since the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration. Jin Youngseung, Commander of the Strategic Command (Air Force Lieutenant General, Korea Air Force Academy Class of 39), has been nominated as the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking position in the military. The entire current group of seven active-duty generals has been replaced, resulting in a reshuffling of the military leadership.

On September 1, the government announced its plan to promote and assign Commander Jin as the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Jin's nomination will be finalized after a Cabinet meeting and a National Assembly confirmation hearing on September 2. Once appointed by President Lee Jaemyung, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Jin will officially assume the role.

Ministry of National Defense, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jin Hyung Kang

Jin, a graduate of the 39th class of the Korea Air Force Academy, is an expert in joint operations and force development. He has held key positions including Director of Force Planning Division 2 at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Information Planning at Air Force Headquarters, Commander of Air Combat Command, Chief of Planning and Management at Air Force Headquarters, Director of Strategic Planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Commander of the Strategic Command.

The Ministry of National Defense explained, "Based on his expertise in current and joint operations, force planning, and defense capability improvement, Jin is the most suitable candidate to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ensuring perfect combat readiness in both peacetime and wartime."

Meanwhile, Kim Gyuhwa, Commander of the Missile Strategy Command (Army Lieutenant General, Korea Military Academy Class of 47), will be promoted and assigned as the new Army Chief of Staff. Kim, a graduate of the 47th class of the Korea Military Academy, is an expert in defense strategy and joint firepower, having served as Commander of the Missile Strategy Command, Deputy Commander of the Ground Operations Command, Commander of the Capital Defense Command, Director of Strategic Planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Commander of the 52nd Division, and Chief Secretary at the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Additionally, Kang Donggil, Director of Military Support at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Navy Lieutenant General), will be promoted and assigned as the Navy Chief of Staff, while Son Seokrak, Commander of the Air Force Education Command (Air Force Lieutenant General), will be promoted and assigned as the Air Force Chief of Staff. Kim Sungmin, Commander of the 5th Corps (Army Lieutenant General), will be promoted and assigned as Deputy Commander of the Combined Forces Command. Joo Seongwoon, Commander of the 1st Corps (Army Lieutenant General), will be promoted and assigned as Commander of the Ground Operations Command. Kim Hobok, Deputy Commander of the Ground Operations Command (Army Lieutenant General), will be promoted and assigned as Commander of the 2nd Operations Command.