Kim Myung-soo (admiral)
Kim Myung-soo | |
|---|---|
| 김명수 | |
| Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | |
| Assumed office 25 November 2023 | |
| President | Yoon Suk Yeol |
| Preceded by | Kim Seung-kyum |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1967 (age 56–57) |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Alma mater | Korea Naval Academy (B.S) Kookmin University (PhD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  South Korea |
| Branch/service |  Republic of Korea Navy |
| Years of service | 1989-Present |
| Rank |  Admiral |
| Commands | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Republic of Korea Fleet Vice Chief of Naval Operations Korea Naval Academy 1st Fleet Maritime Operations Center ROKS Sejong the Great (DDG-991) |
Kim Myung-soo (Korean: 김명수; born 1967), is a South Korean Navy admiral who has been serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Yoon Suk Yeol since 25 November 2023. Prior to his appointment, Kim was named as commander of the Republic of Korea Fleet, Superintendent of the Korea Naval Academy, and as Commander of the 1st Fleet.[1]
Early life and education[edit]
Kim attended high school in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang. He graduated from the Korea Naval Academy Class 43 in 1989 at the top of his class and received the Presidential Award for his accomplishments. In 2014, he received his PhD in political science and international relations from Kookmin University. [1] [2]
[edit]
After graduating from the Naval Academy, he commissioned as Ensign in 1989. In 1990, he was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. In 2009, during his time as Captain and as the commanding officer of the ROKS Sejong the Great (DDG-991), Kim utilized his expertise and skills in missile detection and tracking as he carried out missile detection missions for the first detection of the launch of North Korea’s Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 launcher on 13 April 2012. In the same month, he received the Presidential Personal Commendation for this accomplishment.[3]
Kim also served as the Chief of the 2nd Operations Division at the Joint Chiefs of Staff Headquarters in November 2015, as the Commander of the Maritime Battle Group 2, which serves under the 2nd Fleet, in October 2016, and as Director of the Maritime Operations Center in January 2018. Kim was later named as the Commander of the 1st Fleet in December 2018, before being named as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Intelligence and Operations in November 2019. On May 2020, Kim was named as the Superintendent of the Korea Naval Academy, and was named as Director in the Foreign Intelligence Directorate at the Korea Defense Industry Association on December 2020.[4]
Kim was named as the Director General in the Defense Management Reform Bureau at the Ministry of National Defense on December 2021, before serving as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations on June 2022 to December 2022.[1] On December 2022, Kim was named as the Commander of the Republic of Korea Fleet.[4]
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff[edit]
On October 29, 2023, he was promoted to admiral in the second general appointment of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and was nominated as a candidate to succeed Army General Kim Seung-kyum as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.[5] Kim's appointment is described as a surprise as his appointment for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is a first time since 1994 that a three-star ranking officer will be named as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,[6] and is also a first time in 10 years that an admiral of the navy has been appointed as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since Admiral Choi Yoon-hee, who served from October 16, 2013 to October 7, 2015, who was the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the Park Geun-hye government. Kim's appointment also comes amidst the rising importance of strengthening the nation's naval capabilities, due to the rise of incursions of the Korean People's Navy in the Yellow Sea's Northern Limit Line.[1] Admiral Kim Myung-soo took office on 25 November 2023.[7]
Awards in Military Service[edit]
- Presidential Personal Commendation (2012)[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Vice Adm. Kim Myung-soo named chair of Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff".
- ^ "Military names new JCS chief, overhauls top brass". Korea JoongAng Daily. October 29, 2023.
- ^ a b Byungjin, Parc (April 30, 2012). "A North Korean missile detected in 54 seconds... US-South Korean commanders also admire". in korean.
- ^ a b "Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Biography". www.jcs.mil.kr.
- ^ "Reshuffle of S. Korea's top military brass erases legacy of Moon's NK policies". koreatimes. 30 October 2023.
- ^ Seok-jo, Roh (November 29, 2023). "Vice-Admiral of the Navy Kim Myung-soo was unexpectedly appointed to the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which was previously held by the captain". The Chosun Ilbo (in korean).
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