Kim Hongcheol, Retired Air Force Brigadier General, Appointed as Director General for Defense Policy

Served as Deputy Director of the OPCON Transition Task Force
"Optimal Candidate to Successfully Implement National Tasks"

Kim Hongcheol, former President of the Joint Forces Military University and retired Air Force Brigadier General, has been newly appointed as Director General for Defense Policy at the Ministry of National Defense.

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 29th that Kim Hongcheol has been newly appointed as Director General for Defense Policy. The Director General for Defense Policy oversees and coordinates mid- and long-term defense policy, defense diplomacy and cooperation, as well as defense education and training policy. Kim is the second Air Force officer in history to assume this position, following Jeong Seokhwan, former Director General and retired Air Force Major General.

After graduating from Jeonju Jeonil High School, Kim was commissioned as a member of the 39th class of the Korea Air Force Academy and earned a doctorate in political science from Florida State University in the United States. He has held key positions including President of the Joint Forces Military University, Commander of the Air Force 3rd Flying Training Wing, Deputy Director of the OPCON Transition Task Force at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Chief Secretary to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The military assesses that Kim possesses a deep understanding and extensive insight into all areas of defense, including defense policy, military operations, and education and training.

In particular, Kim completed his doctorate in political science in the United States. During his tenure at the Presidential Office, he was responsible for the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and while serving at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he handled issues such as the transition of wartime operational control and matters related to nuclear and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). His experience is closely aligned with major security issues under the Lee Jaemyung administration, such as the transition of wartime operational control during the presidential term, the modernization of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and the advancement of North Korea's nuclear capabilities.

The Ministry of National Defense stated, "Kim is regarded as the optimal candidate to successfully implement national tasks, such as the transition of wartime operational control based on the comprehensive deterrence capability of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, thanks to his experience with the OPCON Transition Task Force."