Air Force Lt. Gen. Jin Yong-sung nominated for JCS chief

The Ministry of National Defense announced a reshuffle of military leadership, Monday. From left are Air Force Lt. Gen. Jin Yong-sung, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman nominee, Lt. Gen. Kim Gyu-ha, Vice Adm. Kang Dong-gil and Lt. Gen. Son Sug-rag, who were appointed as chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, respectively, and Lt. Gen. Kim Sung-min, new deputy commander of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense

Air Force Lt. Gen. Jin Yong-sung was nominated to be the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Monday, in the first major reshuffle of military leadership since the martial law crisis last December.

The sweeping shake-up, which prompted the retirement of all seven four-star generals, is seen as part of the Lee Jae Myung administration's effort to reform the military in the aftermath of his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, Jin, who currently heads the strategic command, has been tapped to lead the JCS, succeeding Adm. Kim Myung-soo.

Jin, 56, a graduate of the 39th class of the Air Force Academy, has held key positions including director of strategic planning at the JCS and chief of planning and management at Air Force headquarters.

The appointment of an Air Force officer as JCS chairman comes about five years after Gen. Won In-choul assumed the post.

Alongside the new JCS chief, six other three-star generals were promoted to four-star positions in the reshuffle. Among them are Lt. Gen. Kim Gyu-ha, Vice Adm. Kang Dong-gil and Lt. Gen. Son Sug-rag, who were appointed as chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, respectively.

Lt. Gen. Kim Sung-min, currently commander of the 5th Army Corps, has been named deputy commander of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command.

"Through this reshuffle, the military aims to maintain readiness and stabilize the armed forces, while faithfully fulfilling its role as a trusted force serving the people," the ministry said in a statement.

All appointments except for the JCS chairman, which requires National Assembly approval, are expected to be confirmed by the president during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

By elevating these officers to four-star positions, the Lee administration prompted the retirement of all seven current four-star generals, reflecting broader efforts to restructure the military.

During his appointment ceremony on July 25, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back pledged to rebuild the military into a force trusted by the public, emphasizing political neutrality and its duty to protect the nation from outside threats.