Ministry of National Defense appoints Army Lieutenant General Kwon Dae-won as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Ministry of National Defense [Courtesy of Yonhap News TV]

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 8th that it has replaced the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), transitioning from Army Lieutenant General Jung Jin-pal to Army Lieutenant General Kwon Dae-won.

The Ministry explained that Lieutenant General Kwon (ROTC 30th class), an expert in joint operations and crisis management who has served as Chief of Staff of the Ground Operations Command, Director of Civil-Military Operations at the JCS, and Commander of the 39th Infantry Division, possesses the capabilities to support the JCS Chairman and unite the military.

Previously, the government nominated Jeon Young-seung, Commander of the Strategic Command (Air Force Lieutenant General, Air Force Academy 39th class), as the new JCS Chairman on the 1st, and he is currently awaiting a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly.

The position of JCS Chairman has traditionally been held by an Army four-star General; this nomination marks the first time in approximately five years that an Air Force officer has been tapped for the role since Won In-choul in September 2020.

Furthermore, this is the first time that two consecutive nominees have come from outside the Army, following Admiral Kim Myung-soo, who is from the Navy.