Who is he?
Kim Jang-soo has been nominated as the chief of the new National Security Office established under Park Geun-hye’s executive office structure in the Cheong Wa Dae, better known as the Blue House. Born in Gwangju, South Korea in 1968, he graduated from the Korea Military Academy in 1971, Class 27, and earned a degree in public administration from Yonsei University in 1989.
In his 35-year military career, he held a series of positions in command of infantry and operational planning. Kim became the first in his class to be promoted to general and received his fourth star in May 2004. He served as deputy commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command from 2004 to 2005 before becoming the Army Chief of Staff until the end of 2006.
Kim Jang-soo then served as minister of national defense for the late President Roh Moo-hyun in the last eighteen months of his administration. After his retirement, he joined the Saenuri Party (formerly Grand National Party) and served as a representative in the National Assembly from 2008 to 2012.
Kim Jang-soo during his time as Minister of Defense meeting with Secretary Gates. Source: U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. government work.
Why has he been in the news?
On February 8, 2013, Kim was nominated by President-elect Park to be the chief of the National Security Office. This is a new office that is proposed to be created under Park’s reorganization plan of the Blue House and the office is expected to play the role of a “control tower” on foreign policy and national security issues, which is in line with Park’s commitment to strong national defense.
Kim joined Park’s presidential campaign early and was her main security adviser throughout the campaign. Prior to his nomination, he was the head of the transition team’s foreign policy and defense committee.
What can we expect from him?
A highly-regarded leader in national defense and security, Kim is famously known for standing upright without bowing when he shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during the 2007 inter-Korean summit. He was a key figure in the decision to send South Korea “Zaytun” Detachment to Iraq and the transformation of the ROK Army under the ROK Defense Reform Plan 2020, and is well known for his stance on the Northern Limit Line in 2007.
Kim will be responsible for facing tough challenges such as the aftermath of North Korea’s third nuclear test, and has the opportunity to set precedence for his new office. He is expected to take a greater role in foreign affairs, national defense, inter-Korean affairs, and national crisis management under the new Park administration.
