3rd Army commander Kim named Army chief of staff

Major Gen. Kim Sang-ki, commander of the 3rd Army, was nominated for Army chief of staff Wednesday.

The Defense Ministry said, “Gen. Kim has been nominated as he is considered the ideal person who can push for military reform and put the Army’s overall morale, order and combat commitment back on track.”

Kim will receive his official appointment letter from President Lee Myung-bak after Cabinet approval Thursday.

Lt. Gen. Lee Hong-ki, the head of the military operations headquarters at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will replace Kim at the 3rd Army. Lee is the first to be promoted to major general among members of the Korea Military Academy’s 33rd graduating class.

Kim hails from Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, meaning the heads of the armed forces, including Chief of Naval Operations Kim Sung-chan (Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province) and Air Force Chief of Staff Park Jong-heon (Daegu), are all Gyeongsang natives.

mhpark@donga.com