New Navy Chief Admiral Kim Jeong-su Appointed... First Chief from 'Term-Based Promotion' Background

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu]Kim Jeong-su, the current Vice Chief of Naval Operations (Lieutenant General, Naval Academy Class 41), has been appointed as the new Chief of Naval Operations. He will be officially appointed by President Moon Jae-in, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, following the Cabinet meeting on the 14th. This is also the first case of a term-based promotion appointee being selected as Chief of Naval Operations. Term-based promotion is a system where individuals who would not normally be promoted to a certain rank are promoted for a fixed term, usually two years.

According to the government on the 10th, Lieutenant General Kim was born in 1962 in Jeonnam and graduated from the Naval Academy, one class junior to the current Chief of Naval Operations, Bu Seok-jong.

Notably, he was consecutively promoted through term-based promotions when advancing to Director of the Planning and Management Staff (Major General) and Vice Chief of Naval Operations (Lieutenant General). With this appointment as Chief of Naval Operations and promotion to Admiral, he will set a rare record of three consecutive term-based promotions.

The government evaluated, "Lieutenant General Kim is an expert in defense policy and military capabilities, having served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Director of the Naval Headquarters Planning and Management Staff, Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Test and Evaluation Department, and Commander of the 7th Mobile Brigade." It added, "In the current security situation on the Korean Peninsula, he possesses operational command capabilities and military expertise to firmly establish military readiness, leads defense reform and military culture innovation, and combines strategic insight with leadership and capability to unite military morale."

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