The government declared promotions to the rank of lieutenant general on the 13th for 20 people. This signifies the change of 20 of the 31 li...
The government declared promotions to the rank of lieutenant general on the 13th for 20 people. This signifies the change of 20 of the 31 lieutenant general roles in the armed forces. Considered the most extensive reshuffling of lieutenant general-level personnel in the last ten years, it is described as a "historic transformation," with all six army corps commanders being replaced.
The Ministry of National Defense revealed personnel changes on the same day, elevating 14 army majors general, three navy majors general, and three air force majors general to the rank of lieutenant general and assigning them their respective roles. As part of this reorganization, crucial positions within the Joint Chiefs of Staff—such as the Chief of Operations, commanders of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 7th Army Corps tasked with frontline readiness and capital defense, the Capital Corps commander, and key roles in the air force and navy like the Air Operations Commander and Naval Operations Commander—have all been filled by new individuals. Additionally, new appointments were made for the Army Deputy Chief of Staff and Navy Deputy Chief of Staff.
Since the National Assembly passed a resolution to end martial law on December 4 last year, no major generals based at the Army Headquarters in Gyeryongdae—among them five major generals who were investigated for their role in the martial law after taking a bus from the Army Headquarters to the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul—have received promotions. This demonstrates the Lee Jae-myung administration's current focus on "holding those involved in the coup accountable."
Out of the 14 lieutenant general promotions announced on that day, 5 individuals did not graduate from the Korea Military Academy (KMA), making up roughly 35.7%. This is notably higher than the usual percentage of around 10% for non-KMA graduates in such promotions. The Ministry of National Defense remarked, "The number of non-KMA graduates being promoted is the highest in the last ten years, enhancing the variety in personnel appointments."
Major General Park Sung-jae, who joined through the 17th cohort of the academy's program, was named head of the Special Warfare Command, which deployed forces during the martial law. He is the third individual without a KMA background to occupy this role. Major General Han Ki-sung was assigned as leader of the 1st Corps, tasked with overseeing the front-line defense against potential North Korean aggression. This marks the first instance of an ROTC graduate being appointed to lead the 1st Corps.
◇ Questioning Lieutenant General Promotees: "Did the Martial Law constitute an Uprising?"
At last month's Cabinet meeting, President Lee Jae-myung told Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back that those implicated in the emergency martial law were among the military promotion candidates, saying, "(If their involvement) is verified, they can naturally be removed from the promotion list, and even if promoted, their positions can be rescinded." He further added, "Make sure to choose wisely."
Under this policy approach, there were responses both inside and outside the military concerning the lieutenant general promotions announced on the 13th, with comments such as, "A significant reorganization was conducted focusing on generals who were not involved in the December 3 emergency martial law," and "There are numerous instances where generals, who were reportedly difficult to promote after being removed from important roles, have now been advanced." The promotion of non-KMA graduates is also seen as connected to the fact that most individuals involved in last year's martial law were KMA graduates.
After his appointment in August, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back initiated an inquiry into all officers at the rank of colonel and higher from units involved in the martial law, saying, "I will address misconduct following the principle of rewarding excellence and penalizing errors." As a result, the Defense Ministry's Inspector General's Office reportedly examined hundreds of officers at the rank of colonel and above who had worked in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Headquarters, and the Army Ground Operations Command.
As with earlier general promotions at the four-star level, this reorganization is said to have involved a process of questioning views on the martial law. A military source stated, "I know they asked, 'Was the martial law an uprising?'" and continued, "Some generals who were considered for promotion reportedly responded, 'If that's true, I won't take the promotion.'"
As per the day's personnel changes, in the army, Majors General Han Ki-sung, Jeong Yu-su, Lee Sang-ryeol, Lee Il-yong, Choi Seong-jin, and Lee Im-su were elevated to the rank of lieutenant general and assigned as corps commanders. Majors General Park Sung-jae and Eo Chang-jun were promoted to lieutenant general and took up roles as the Special Warfare Commander and Chief of the Capital Defense Command, respectively. Majors General Kwon Hyok-dong and Kang Gwan-beom were promoted to lieutenant general and appointed as the Missile Strategy Commander and Education Commander, respectively. Lieutenant General Kang Hyun-woo, an alumnus of the 50th class at the Korea Military Academy, was promoted and named as the JCS Chief of Operations. It was reported that among current army lieutenant generals, 7th Corps Commander Park Jae-yeol was transferred to the position of Strategic Commander, and 2nd Corps Commander Park Hu-seong was appointed as the Korea Military Academy Superintendent.
Other interpretations suggest that generals who were promoted to major general during the Moon Jae-in era have been "rehabilitated" under the present administration. This includes Army Vice Chief of Staff Choi Jang-sik, Capital Defense Command Commander Eo Chang-jun, who oversees capital defense, 7th Corps Commander Choi Seong-jin, responsible for advancing into North Korea in emergency scenarios, Special Warfare Commander Park Sung-jae, and Korea Military Academy Superintendent Park Hu-seong. A military official stated, "It seems they are regarded as more trustworthy compared to those promoted during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration."
Former Defense Counterintelligence Command Commander Yeo In-hyung, former Capital Defense Command Head Lee Jin-woo, and former Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun, who are facing charges such as "involvement in critical duties related to rebellion," are reportedly not within the lieutenant general quota. All 15 army lieutenant general positions were changed during this reorganization. Three individuals who were classmates of the chief of staff were automatically retired, while three vacancies resulting from martial law involvement and incidents, along with five vacancies from promotions to four-star generals, were filled. Two out of the three current corps commanders have been reassigned. The KMA Superintendent, previously a two-star post, has been elevated to a three-star position.
The Defense Counterintelligence Command, which was previously headed by a lieutenant general, has been left out of this reorganization as changes in the structure are being considered. At present, Brigadier General Pyun Mu-sam, who graduated from an academy program, is acting as the commander. Some interpretations suggest that the Defense Counterintelligence Command could be reduced to a major general-level unit, with Brigadier General Pyun being promoted to major general and appointed as its leader.
The Department of National Defense also named Park Choon-sik as the Army Logistics Commander and Kim Jong-muk as the Deputy Commander of the Ground Operations Command in addition to the lieutenant general promotions. In the navy, Majors General Kwak Gwang-seop (recently appointed as Navy Vice Chief of Staff), Park Gyu-baek (Director of the Naval Academy), and Kang Dong-gu (JCS Chief of Strategic Planning) were elevated to the rank of lieutenant general. In the air force, Majors General Kwon Young-min (Commander of Education), Kim Joon-ho (Head of the Defense Intelligence Command), and Koo Sang-mo (JCS Chief of Military Support) were promoted to lieutenant general.
During the initial military leadership change under the Lee Jae-myung administration on September 1, all seven four-star generals—covering the JCS Chairman, heads of the army, navy, and air force, the deputy commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, the Army Ground Operations Commander, and the 2nd Operational Commander—were replaced. At that time, seven three-star generals were elevated to four-star positions, resulting in a significant transformation of the military leadership, broadening the extent of this reshuffle involving three-star generals. The Ministry of National Defense intends to carry out further promotions for major generals and brigadiers throughout the year.
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