First Senior Civil Servant Appointed as Defense Advisor to the Minister

Kim Sunbong Appointed and Promoted to Director for Armed Forces Organization

Yonhap News Agency

The Ministry of National Defense has appointed a senior civil servant, rather than a general-level officer, as Defense Advisor (formerly Military Advisor).

According to the Ministry of National Defense on February 27, Kim Sunbong, former Director for Armed Forces Organization in the Office of Planning and Management at the Ministry of National Defense (48th class of the Higher Civil Service Examination), was promoted and appointed as Defense Advisor (formerly Military Advisor), a position equivalent to director-general level.

The Defense Advisor directly assists the Minister of National Defense in domestic and overseas activities and work, supporting overall defense operations including: comprehensive management of the minister's directives; planning of speeches and messages; identification and coordination of agendas for the development of defense policy; and ministerial events and protocol.

Last month, the Ministry of National Defense changed the title of "Military Advisor" to "Defense Advisor" and revised its organization to allow the appointment of senior civil servants to the post. Previously, the position of Military Advisor had been held by Army general officers. The ministry explained that appointing a civil servant, rather than an Army general, as the minister's advisor is intended to strengthen democratic and institutional control for the "rebuilding of the people's armed forces," to promote balanced development of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and thereby to enhance the objectivity and fairness of defense policy.

Advisor Kim has previously served in posts including Director for Armed Forces Organization, Director of Operations Support, Director of Force Policy, Director of Information Planning, Director of Protocol, and Director of Health Policy. The Ministry of National Defense described Advisor Kim as "the most suitable person to assist the minister in defense operations, having accumulated expertise across all areas of national defense."

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