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Kim Yong-hyun (general)

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In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

Kim Yong-hyun
김용현
Official portrait, 2022
Minister of National Defense
In office
6 September 2024 – 5 December 2024
PresidentYoon Suk Yeol
Prime MinisterHan Duck-soo
Preceded byShin Won-sik
Succeeded byChoi Byung-hyuk
Chief of the Presidential Security Service
In office
11 May 2022 – 6 September 2024
PresidentYoon Suk Yeol
Preceded byYoo Yeon-sang
Succeeded byPark Jong-joon
Personal details
Born (1959-06-25) 25 June 1959 (age 65)
Masan, South Korea
EducationKorea Military Academy
Military service
Branch/serviceRepublic of Korea Army
Years of service1978–2017
RankLieutenant general
Korean name
Hangul
김용현
Hanja
金龍顯
Revised RomanizationGim Yonghyeon
McCune–ReischauerKim Yonghyŏn

Kim Yong-hyun (Korean: 김용현; born 25 June 1959)[1] is a former Republic of Korea Army lieutenant general and former South Korean Minister of National Defense who served within the cabinet of President Yoon Suk Yeol from 6 September 2024 until resigning on 5 December 2024 for his role in the 2024 declaration of martial law.

On 8 December, Kim Yong-hyun was arrested on suspicion of committing insurrection by advising President Yoon to declare martial law and sending troops into the National Assembly to seize the legislature.[2][3] On 10 December, Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide at the detention facility he was held in.[4] If convicted, he could face the maximum penalty of death.[4]

Early life and education

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Kim was born in Masan, South Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Chungam High School [ko] in Eunpyeong District, Seoul in 1978 (one year ahead of Yoon Suk Yeol), and entered the Korea Military Academy shortly thereafter.[5]

Career

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Kim was formerly a three-star army general[6] who served as the Chief of the Presidential Security Service from 11 May 2022 until he was nominated to serve as the Minister of National Defense in August 2024,[7] taking office on 6 September. Due to Kim having been an upperclassman of President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Chungam High School in Seoul, they have been referred to as the "Chungam faction".[8]

Kim resigned on 5 December in the aftermath of the 2024 declaration of martial law,[9] for which he made an apology.[10] The defense ministry confirmed that Kim had suggested to President Yoon that he institute martial law.[11] His deputy, Kim Seon-ho, also accused him of having ordered soldiers to enter the National Assembly and prevent lawmakers from gathering to vote down the declaration.[12] Kim was barred from leaving the country on 5 December by the Ministry of Justice.[13] On 8 December, he was arrested on charges relating to the martial law declaration.[14]

On 10 December, a police raid was conducted at the Presidential Office, with investigators presenting a search warrant that specified Yoon as the suspect.[15][16] On the same day, Kim attempted to commit suicide while in custody at the detention facility he was held in.[15][16][17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "대통령실 용산 설계자…뼛속까지 군인, 김용현" [Presidential Office Yongsan Designer… Soldier to the bone, Kim Yong-hyun]. 중앙일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Prosecution arrests ex-defense minister over treason charges". koreatimes. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  3. ^ Ji-hyoung, Son (8 December 2024). "[Breaking] Ex-Defense Minister arrested for insurrection, abuse of authority". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Former South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun attempts suicide in jail during martial law investigation". Dimsum Daily. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  5. ^ "尹에 비상계엄 건의한 김용현 국방장관은 누구? '충암파' 실세" [Who is the Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun who suggested martial law to Yoon? The real power of the 'Chungam faction']. 한국일보 (in Korean). 4 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  6. ^ Choi, Jae-hee (4 December 2024). "Defense minister, Yoon high school alumnus, named as mastermind of martial law plot". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  7. ^ Park, Anna (12 August 2024). "President designates new defense minister, national security adviser". The Korea Times. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  8. ^ "PM Han overlooked as defense minister bypasses him on martial law declaration". The Korea Times. 4 December 2024.
  9. ^ "South Korea's defence minister resigns over martial law crisis". Al Jazeera. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  10. ^ Jung, Min-kyung; Son, Ji-hyoung; Kim, Arin; Lee, Jung-joo (4 December 2024). "South Korea faces unprecedented turmoil in aftermath of Yoon's martial law". The Korea Herald.
  11. ^ Kim, Eun-jung (4 December 2024). "Ruling party leader urges Yoon to sack defense chief over martial law fiasco". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  12. ^ Kim, Seung-yeon (5 December 2024). "(LEAD) Ex-defense minister ordered deployment of troops to Nat'l Assembly during martial law". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  13. ^ Park, Anna (5 December 2024). "Martial law commander unaware of situation until Yoon's public announcement". The Korea Times. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  14. ^ Jin, Hyunjoo (8 December 2024). "South Korea ex-defence minister arrested over President Yoon's martial law". Reuters. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  15. ^ a b McCurry, Justin (11 December 2024). "South Korea police raid President Yoon's office over martial law declaration". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Yoon Suk Yeol: South Korea police raid presidential office over martial law attempt". BBC News. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  17. ^ Bae, Gawon; Regan, Helen (11 December 2024). "South Korea's ex-defense minister attempts to take his own life as presidential office raided in martial law fallout". CNN. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
Military offices
Preceded by Minister of National Defense
9 September 2024–5 December 2024 		Succeeded by
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