Suh Wook[1] (Korean: 서욱; Hanja: 徐旭; 12 May 1963), also known as Seo Wook, is a former Minister of National Defense served under President Moon Jae-in[2] from 2020 to 2022. He is President Moon's first defense minister with an Army background, as his predecessors came from other branches of the Armed Forces.[3]
Suh Wook | |
|---|---|
| 서욱 | |
_Lieutenant_General_Suh_Wook_%EC%9C%A1%EA%B5%B0%EB%8C%80%EC%9E%A5_%EC%84%9C%EC%9A%B1_(UNC-CFC-USFK_photo_IMG_7352).jpg) Suh as Army general | |
| Minister of National Defense | |
| In office 18 September 2020 – 10 May 2022 | |
| President | Moon Jae-in |
| Preceded by | Jeong Kyeong-doo |
| Succeeded by | Lee Jong-sup |
| Chief of Staff of the Army | |
| In office 16 April 2019 – 18 September 2020 | |
| President | Moon Jae-in |
| Preceded by | Kim Yong-woo |
| Succeeded by | Nam Yeong-shin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 May 1963 Gwangju, South Korea |
| Alma mater | Korea Military Academy |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  South Korea |
| Branch/service |  Republic of Korea Army |
| Years of service | 1985–2020 |
| Rank |  General |
Upon the beginning of Moon's presidency in 2017, he was reshuffled to Joint Chiefs of Staff where he served as its chief director of operation before promoted as Chief of Army Staff in 2019.[4]
From 2011 to 2014 Suh served at ROK-US Combined Forces Command.[3] He then served as commanding general of the First Corps from 2016 to 2017.[5]
Suh is a Korea Military Academy graduate and holds two degrees - a master's in military strategy from the Korea National Defense University and a doctorate in political science from Kyungnam University.[6]
Suh was arrested on October 22, 2022, due to covering up facts in the killing of Lee Dae-jun, a South Korean fisheries official who was killed by North Korean soldiers. The Democratic Party of Korea claims the arrest of Suh and Kim Hong-hee who was the Coast Guard chief, are believed to be politically motivated charges. However the government says that there was evidence that the incident was mishandled by officials at the time. Some sources say that the two may have also abused power during the incident.[7][8][9]
Suh is a Catholic.
Effective dates of promotion
edit| Insignia | Rank | Year |
|---|---|---|
|
|
General | 2019 |
|
Lieutenant General | 2016 |
|
Major General | 2014 |
|
Brigadier General | 2010 |
References
edit- ^ "Republic of Korea Army". www.army.mil.kr. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
- ^ "South Korean army's chief of staff nominated to serve as new defense minister". Stars and Stripes.
- ^ a b 이, 치동 (2020-08-28). "(2nd LD) Army chief Gen. Suh Wook tapped as defense minister: Cheong Wa Dae". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
- ^ "South Korea nominates Army Chief of Staff Suh Wook as new defense minister". NK News. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
- ^ "Army Chief of Staff Gen. Suh Wook named as new defense minister". The Korea Times. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
- ^ "Minister Suh Wook Profile".
- ^ "Former South Korean defence chief arrested over official killed by North". South China Morning Post. 2022-10-22. Archived from the original on 2023-02-13.
- ^ Arin, Kim (October 17, 2022). "More evidence of mishandling in death of Lee Dae-jun". The Korea Herald.
- ^ "Former defense minister, ex-Coast Guard chief arrested". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. October 23, 2022.
- ^ "서욱 :: 네이버 인물검색". people.search.naver.com. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
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