Last “Kap” Officer Will Transfer

There will be no more officers with the rank of “Kap,” who have served in the military for 56 years, as a result of the reshuffling of top military posts on November 15. Second Army Commander Kwon Yeong-ki, the last grade “Kap” officer, will transfer from active service to the first reserve on November 17.

Kwon was a candidate for Army Chief of Staff in the reshuffling, but decided to transfer as Park Heung-ryeol was promoted to the post. Selected as a “Kap” officer and commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1968, Kwon is a top senior general commissioned four years before Kim Kwan-jin, the new head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The “Kap” staff program was launched at the Army Infantry Academy in 1950 and produced 45,424 officers in total until 1969. It supplied officers by selecting candidates for “Kap” officers among men who graduated from high school and commissioning them as second lieutenants after a training period.

When the Korean War broke out, the first and second class candidates had to go to war before receiving certificates. Lots of “Kap” officers were distinguished in their service during the Vietnam War and operations against spies, including three officers who received “taegeuk” merit medals and 5,342 officers with merit medals. 809 officers died in Korean War, 174 in Vietnam War, and 5 in operations against spies.

200 generals have been produced so far, including Kwon and Cho Yeong-kil, the first Defense Minister in Roh’s administration.

Kwon said, “I was blessed to serve for forty years, including my service as a soldier.”

A source from the Grade Kap Officers Association said, “We hope Kap officers, who have protected our country in the forefront whenever there is a crisis, will be remembered as part of Korea’s military history.”

ysh1005@donga.com