Military Promotes 20 in Staff Shake-Up

The government carried out its periodic military personnel shakeup including the promotion and appointment of 20 army generals. Among them was Major General Park Chang-myeong who was promoted to lieutenant general and named the commander of the ninth army corps.

Twelve brigadier generals were promoted to major generals, and two major generals received promotion to lieutenant generals. Six lieutenant generals were assigned new commission.

Rear Admiral Lee Sang-lo was promoted to vice admiral and was appointed to be a new commander of the Marine Corps replacing present commander, Kim Myeong-gyun, now hospitalized.

Hwang Jung-seon, the first division commander, will be in charge of the Zaitun Unit, dispatched to Iraq for peace-keeping and rebuilding of the nation, succeeding Jeong Seung-jo whose term ends next month.

In addition, Lieutenant General Baik Gun-ki will take the post of the army personnel commander, and eight brigadier generals including General Kim Hyeon-ki were advanced to major general positions and named army commanders.

Lieutenant General Jeong Dong-han, Vice Admirals Kwon Yeong-jun, Jeong Gwan-ok, Seo Yang-won, and Park In-yong were appointed to the posts of Korea National Defense University president, vice chief of naval operation, Korea Naval Academy president, the commander for naval education and the commander for naval strategies, respectively.

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com