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South Korea Installs New Army, Navy and Air Force Chiefs in Sweeping Overhaul

The civilian defense minister pressed the newly installed service chiefs to rebuild public trust following the previous government's martial-law crisis.

Overview

  • Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back attended inauguration ceremonies for the new heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force, urging a force trusted by the public and ready for AI, space and cyber challenges.
  • President Lee Jae Myung a day earlier presented symbolic swords to seven newly promoted four-star generals and told them to be loyal to the nation rather than political power.
  • Air Force Gen. Jin Yong-sung, the inaugural Strategic Command chief, has been nominated to chair the Joint Chiefs of Staff and must first undergo a National Assembly confirmation hearing.
  • The reshuffle replaces all active four-star generals, elevating Kim Gyu-ha to Army chief of staff, Adm. Kang Dong-gil to chief of naval operations and Air Force Gen. Son Sug-rag to chief of staff.
  • Maj. Gen. Kim Seong-min was named deputy commander of the KoreaU.S. Combined Forces Command, with other top operational posts filled as part of the leadership reset.