Jang selected to lead 1st Army

By Jun Ji-hye

Lt. Gen. Jang Joon-gyu

Lt. Gen. Jang Joon-gyu has been selected as commander of the 1st Army, the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday.

“He will be promoted to a four-star general at a Cabinet meeting on Sept. 11, and then officially appointed to the position,” said the ministry in a statement.

The 57-year-old, who was a deputy commander of the 1st Army, is currently assuming the post of acting commander replacing former commander Shin Hyeon-don.

Shin was discharged Tuesday for hosting a drinking party and inappropriate behavior for a general in June amid an order for heightened military readiness.

“Jang is a qualified appointee as he possesses rich military professionalism and an ability to lead operations to enhance the nation’s national security posture to cope with threats from North Korea,” said the statement.

“He also has a strong mind to reform the bad culture that has festered in some units,” it added.

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye