Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Gen. Lee Sun-jin named JCS chief
By Yi Whan-woo
Gen. Lee Sun-jin
By Yi Whan-woo
Army Gen. Lee Sun-jin, commander of the Second Operations Command, has been named chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the Ministry of Defense said Monday.
Lee, 61, an Army Academy graduate, will replace Adm. Choi Yoon-hee in a regular reshuffle of top military officials. Choi’s two-year term will end in October.
This is the first time that an Army Academy graduate will take the top post in the military chain of command, which Korea Military Academy (KMA) graduates have largely dominated.
For instance, Adm. Choi was the first navy flag officer to become the JCS chief under President Park Geun-hye. The Air Force had one JCS chairman in the 1990s.
Located in Seoul, KMA trains and disciplines cadets to become Army officers who have decided to undergo elite courses for the four years they will attend the academy.
The Army Academy, in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, educates students who transferred after their sophomore year from four-year colleges to become Army officers. The college offers two-year curriculums, including military training.
It is speculated that Lee was nominated to JCS chief as part of the military’s efforts to foster top personnel with diverse backgrounds, according to sources.
The defense ministry said the selection was made in consideration of the nominees' administrative philosophy, professionalism, leadership and innovative capacity.
The JCS Chairman’s appointment is subject to National Assembly approval and Lee will undergo a confirmation hearing. The date has not been set yet.
Meanwhile, Gen. Jang Jun-gyu was named Army chief of staff , to replace Gen. Kim Yo-hwan.
Third Army Commander Kim Hyun-jip was named deputy commander of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, while Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeong Kyeong-doo was promoted to general and the Air Force chief of staff.
The nomination of Jeong, a graduate of Air Force Academy, was also a surprise because he was promoted over the heads of his senior alumni.
Three of the Army’s Lieutenant generals ― Kim Young-shik, Eom Ki-hak and Park Chan-ju ― were promoted to general. They are also colleagues of Park Ji-man, 56, President Park Geun-hye’s younger brother, who went the KMA.