[Defense Club] When 'Nelson Touch' Leadership Is Needed

The British Empire That Never Set for 100 Years
Admiral Nelson Who Commanded the Battle of Trafalgar
No Desire for Credit or Position Despite Achievements

The Battle of Trafalgar is one of the 'Four Great Naval Battles' recognized by historians, alongside the Battle of Hansan, the Battle of Salamis, and the Battle of Calais. The Battle of Trafalgar began in October 1805 when Napoleon dispatched a combined French and Spanish fleet of 33 ships off the coast of Trafalgar, Spain, to conquer Britain. The British fleet, led by Admiral Horatio Nelson, consisted of 27 ships. The result was a decisive British victory. This victory established Britain as the 'empire on which the sun never sets,' dominating the oceans for about a century.

The British people's respect for Admiral Nelson, who elevated national power, is profound. Nelson's funeral was conducted as a state funeral. In British history, excluding royalty, only three individuals have received the honor of a state funeral: Admiral Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and Winston Churchill. Nelson's statue still stands tall in Trafalgar Square, London. Atop a 55-meter-high stone column, Admiral Nelson is depicted commanding four bronze lions, symbolizing the spirit and determination of the British people.

The British regard Nelson, who lost his right eye and right arm in battle, as the greatest figure in their history. The reason is simple: he showed no vanity or ambition for position regarding his achievements. He cared more for his subordinates than himself. A famous anecdote tells of him instructing doctors to treat his wounded men before attending to his own injuries. His subordinates described his leadership as 'like a comforting touch,' coining the term 'The Nelson Touch.'

Unfortunately, Nelson's leadership is not evident in our military. On the contrary, the opposite situation is often observed. For example, General Kim Seung-gyeom, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasized air defense readiness against drones during a visit to the air defense positions of the 3rd Infantry Division in northern Gyeonggi last December. Yet, ten days later, a North Korean drone intruded into our territory, and our military failed to shoot it down. To compensate, the military announced it would conduct a small drone elimination exercise 13 days later. Subsequently, numerous promotional materials highlighting General Kim's field visits were released. Since his appointment in July last year, General Kim has issued 25 field inspection reports, twice as many as previous chairmen who typically released such reports about once a month.

Military commanders usually do not publicize field inspections because their movements can reveal our military's readiness posture. While field inspections may be publicized as a warning to North Korea, the movements of commanders, such as during nationwide commanders' meetings led by the Minister of National Defense, have traditionally been kept confidential. Inside and outside the military, criticism has arisen that General Kim has become excessively obsessed with achievements following the drone incident.

There have also been cases where rumors about health issues have shaken military morale. For instance, Ground Operations Commander Jeon Dong-jin collapsed and was urgently transported to a hospital during the 1st Corps change of command ceremony last year, sparking rumors that a chronic illness he had during his corps command worsened. At the Ground Operations Command's 4th anniversary ceremony in January, his posture was unsteady, causing concern among nearby officers. Later, during the first day of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise 'Freedom Shield (FS),' he reportedly showed abnormal symptoms during a video conference (VCT), prompting the camera to urgently switch to another screen. Although there were predictions he might be replaced before completing one year in office due to these issues, he retained his position in the personnel changes in the first half of this year.

Since the Ground Operations Command will play a role as the Combined Ground Component Command, which commands and controls combined U.S.-South Korea assets linked to the future wartime operational control transfer, the commander's physical fitness is considered an essential requirement. Soldiers designate every Wednesday as Combat Sports Day for physical training, but it is questionable whether a commander in poor health can emphasize strong physical fitness. Leadership does not come from publicity or merely holding a position. The leadership known as 'The Nelson Touch' emerged through the voices of subordinates.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.