[Defense Brief] Expectations for the New JCS Chairman

Appointment Forced Without the 20th Confirmation Hearing Report
Stock Trading Allegations and Golfing Amid North Korean Provocations Rightly Criticized
With a Tumultuous Inauguration, Sole Focus Must Be on National Security

In December last year, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Kim Seung-gyeom visited the headquarters of the Army's 5th Corps and air defense positions. This was immediately after a North Korean drone infiltrated the skies over Seoul. At this meeting, Chairman Kim instructed, "Be thoroughly prepared for enemy drone provocations." However, just 10 days later, the drone crossed over again, and our military failed to shoot it down. The military deployed fighter jets and fired over 100 live rounds, but to no avail.

After failing to shoot down the drone, the JCS hurriedly conducted training. They announced a large-scale joint air defense exercise, the first in five years, with key units participating in drills to counter small enemy drones. Judging by the materials alone, it seemed like a perfect exercise. However, a crucial fact was omitted: no live firing took place. The JCS explained that the training was conducted only up to just before live firing. The reason the military was criticized regarding the drone incident was because despite firing over 100 live rounds, they failed to shoot down the drone. It was a typical case of "turning a blind eye" training. Even before the second half of the year’s military personnel reshuffle began, rumors of replacing former Chairman Kim surfaced.

Because of this, public expectations for the next JCS Chairman were high. When President Yoon Seok-yeol nominated Kim Myung-soo as the JCS Chairman candidate, there was a clear welcoming atmosphere within the military. He is an elite officer who graduated top of his class from the Naval Academy (43rd class) and received a presidential citation in 2012 for being the first to detect North Korea’s ‘Kwangmyongsong-3’ launch vehicle.

However, the expectations did not last long. During working hours, stock trading, golfing on the day of North Korea’s missile launch, and covering up his child’s school violence incidents all surfaced one after another. These were all sensitive issues that did not align with public sentiment. Opposition lawmakers demanded the withdrawal of Kim’s nomination as JCS Chairman, and Defense Minister Shin Won-sik urged his appointment, but to no avail. President Yoon pushed forward with Kim’s appointment, making him the 20th minister-level official appointed without a confirmation hearing. The JCS Chairman is the highest-ranking officer in the military, the top commander and face of the armed forces, but following former Chairman Kim Seung-gyeom, he began a humiliating term without recognition from the National Assembly, the "hall of the people's will."

The biggest fault lies in the personnel verification system. With the launch of North Korea’s military reconnaissance satellite and the looming full collapse of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement, the security crisis surrounding the Korean Peninsula reached its peak, necessitating meticulous personnel vetting. The National Assembly shares this responsibility. Kim’s golfing and stock trading are rightly criticized as they relate directly to his duties. However, judging his qualifications based on his child’s school violence incident from over a decade ago seems politically motivated. Since the enactment of the ‘Defense Reform Act’ at the end of 2006 and the revision of the ‘Personnel Hearing Act’ at the end of 2007, which introduced the National Assembly’s personnel hearing system for JCS Chairman candidates, personal issues have traditionally not been raised during these hearings. Given the JCS Chairman’s status as the highest-ranking officer, this was a consideration to uphold the commander’s authority and boost military morale. Former Chairman Kim Seung-gyeom also did not face personal issues during his confirmation process, which was delayed due to political negotiations over the National Assembly’s organization, and only procedural controversies arose. Now, the appointed JCS Chairman has one mission: not to show superficial leadership for public display, nor to be swayed by internal political controversies, but to focus solely on national security.

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