KOREA WHO
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Minister of National Defense
Kim Yong-hyun
Yoon Suk-yeol's Senior from Chungam High, Led 'Mouth Shut' as Chief of Presidential Security
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Last Updated on Sep 27, 2024
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Minister of National Defense
Copy Url : https://www.koreawho.com/profile/KimYonghyun- Life Summary
Kim Yong-hyun is the third Minister of National Defense under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.
He was born on June 25, 1959, in Masan, Gyeongsangnam-do (now part of Changwon).
In 1978, he graduated from Chungam High School in Seoul (Class 7), where he was one year ahead of President Yoon Suk-yeol (Class 8).
In the same year, he entered the Korea Military Academy as part of the 38th class, marking the start of his military career. He later served as Commander of the 17th Infantry Division and the Capital Defense Command, before retiring as a three-star general (Lieutenant General) in 2017.
There is a perspective that Kim’s promotion to a four-star general (General) was hindered when the Moon Jae-in administration opted to promote non-Korea Military Academy generals, bypassing traditional military ranks.
After his retirement, Kim reportedly became close friends with Yoon Suk-yeol, then Prosecutor General, often described as his drinking buddy.
In August 2021, Kim entered politics by joining Yoon Suk-yeol's presidential campaign.
Following Yoon's election, Kim served on the Presidential Transition Committee and was appointed Chief of the Presidential Security Service in May 2022, under Yoon’s first administration.
On August 12, 2024, Kim was nominated as the third Minister of National Defense under the Yoon administration, and he was formally appointed on September 6 of the same year.
#KimYonghyun #YoonSukyeol #NationalDefenseMinister #Koreanmilitary #ChungamHighSchool #KoreaMilitaryAcademy #politics #militaryleadership #Yoonadministration #defense
He was born on June 25, 1959, in Masan, Gyeongsangnam-do (now part of Changwon).
In 1978, he graduated from Chungam High School in Seoul (Class 7), where he was one year ahead of President Yoon Suk-yeol (Class 8).
In the same year, he entered the Korea Military Academy as part of the 38th class, marking the start of his military career. He later served as Commander of the 17th Infantry Division and the Capital Defense Command, before retiring as a three-star general (Lieutenant General) in 2017.
There is a perspective that Kim’s promotion to a four-star general (General) was hindered when the Moon Jae-in administration opted to promote non-Korea Military Academy generals, bypassing traditional military ranks.
After his retirement, Kim reportedly became close friends with Yoon Suk-yeol, then Prosecutor General, often described as his drinking buddy.
In August 2021, Kim entered politics by joining Yoon Suk-yeol's presidential campaign.
Following Yoon's election, Kim served on the Presidential Transition Committee and was appointed Chief of the Presidential Security Service in May 2022, under Yoon’s first administration.
On August 12, 2024, Kim was nominated as the third Minister of National Defense under the Yoon administration, and he was formally appointed on September 6 of the same year.
#KimYonghyun #YoonSukyeol #NationalDefenseMinister #Koreanmilitary #ChungamHighSchool #KoreaMilitaryAcademy #politics #militaryleadership #Yoonadministration #defense
