Who is Seok Jong-geon, the new head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration?

Appointed as Chief of Joint Chiefs of Staff Power Planning Division under Yoon Administration
Graduate of Suwon Suseong High School, Korea Military Academy Class 45

Major General Seok Jong-geon, retired Army officer, who was appointed as the 13th Administrator of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) at the vice-ministerial level, previously held a position in the Joint Chiefs of Staff related to force management.

Born in 1967, he graduated from Suseong High School in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, and entered the Korea Military Academy as part of the 45th class in 1985. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation in 1989. As a lieutenant colonel, he served as a battalion commander in the 1st Infantry Division, and after promotion to colonel, he held positions such as commander of the 37th Infantry Regiment of the 12th Infantry Division and operations staff officer of the 3rd Corps.

After being promoted to brigadier general, Seok served as the head of the Force 1 Division in the Strategic Planning Department of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As a major general, he served as commander of the 35th Infantry Division, head of the establishment promotion team for the 2nd Rapid Response Division, and director of the Force Planning Department of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Notably, during his tenure as head of the establishment promotion team for the 2nd Rapid Response Division, he was recognized for leading the reorganization of units while envisioning the future force structure of the Republic of Korea military.

Seok was included among candidates for a second promotion to lieutenant general in 2021 but did not achieve the promotion. After the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, Lieutenant Generals Jeon Dong-jin, Ahn Byung-seok, and Shin Hee-hyun were promoted to general, and the 46th and 47th classes of the Korea Military Academy produced second and first promotion candidates to lieutenant general, respectively, leading to expectations that Seok would conclude his military career as a major general. However, he was appointed as director of the Force Planning Department of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Presidential Office evaluated Seok as "the right person to establish a cooperative system among the Ministry of National Defense, the military, DAPA, and defense industry companies based on his expertise in military force systems and outstanding coordination and command abilities, while simultaneously leading the development of a science and technology-strong military and revitalizing defense exports."

Seok will be appointed on the 19th. It is reported that the current administrator, Eom Dong-hwan, will hold a retirement ceremony on the same day.

△ Born 1967 △ Suseong High School, Gyeonggi △ Korea Military Academy 45th class △ Master’s in Operations Analysis from the Korea National Defense University △ Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, 1st Infantry Division △ Commander, 37th Infantry Regiment, 12th Infantry Division △ Head of Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff △ Head of Force Planning, Joint Chiefs of Staff △ Head of Force 1 Division, Joint Chiefs of Staff △ Commander, 35th Infantry Division △ Head of Establishment Promotion Team, 2nd Rapid Response Division △ Director, Force Planning Department, Joint Chiefs of Staff

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