Kim Yong-hyun (general)
Kim Yong-hyun | |
|---|---|
김용현 | |
 Official portrait, 2022 | |
| Minister of National Defense | |
| In office 6 September 2024 – 5 December 2024 | |
| President | Yoon Suk Yeol |
| Prime Minister | Han Duck-soo |
| Preceded by | Shin Won-sik |
| Succeeded by | Kim Seon-ho (acting) |
| Chief of the Presidential Security Service | |
| In office 11 May 2022 – 6 September 2024 | |
| President | Yoon Suk Yeol |
| Preceded by | Yoo Yeon-sang |
| Succeeded by | Park Jong-joon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 June 1959 Masan, South Korea |
| Education | Korea Military Academy |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Republic of Korea Army |
| Years of service | 1978–2017 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김용현 |
| Hanja | 金龍顯 |
| Revised Romanization | Gim Yonghyeon |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Yonghyŏn |
Kim Yong-hyun (Korean: 김용현; born 25 June 1959)[1] is a South Korean former lieutenant general and politician who served as the Minister of National Defense from 6 September 2024 until his resignation on 5 December 2024 for his involvement in the 2024 South Korean martial law. On 8 December 2024, he was arrested on suspicion of committing insurrection by advising President Yoon Suk Yeol to declare martial law and sending troops into the National Assembly to seize the legislature.
Early life and education
[edit]Kim was born in Masan, South Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Chungam High School in Eunpyeong District, Seoul in 1978 (one year ahead of Yoon Suk Yeol), and entered the Korea Military Academy shortly thereafter.[2]
Career
[edit]Kim was formerly a three-star army general[3] 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,[4] 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".[5]
Association with the 2024 martial law
[edit]At an unplanned cabinet meeting that Yoon convened minutes before his late-night declaration on 3 December, Kim recommended imposing martial law.[6][7] Kim resigned on 5 December in the aftermath of the 2024 declaration of martial law,[8] for which he made an apology.[9] 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.[10] Kim was barred from leaving the country on 5 December by the Ministry of Justice.[11] On 8 December, he was arrested on charges relating to the martial law declaration.[12]
On 10 December, a police raid was conducted at the Presidential Office, with investigators presenting a search warrant that specified Yoon as the suspect.[13][14] On the same day, Kim attempted suicide at the detention facility he was held in.[15]
If Kim is convicted, he could potentially face the death penalty.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ 대통령실 용산 설계자…뼛속까지 군인, 김용현 [Presidential Office Yongsan Designer… Soldier to the bone, Kim Yong-hyun]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ "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']. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). 4 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Park, Anna (12 August 2024). "President designates new defense minister, national security adviser". The Korea Times. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ^ "PM Han overlooked as defense minister bypasses him on martial law declaration". The Korea Times. 4 December 2024.
- ^ "Who is Kim Yong-hyun, ousted South Korean defence minister who attempted suicide?". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "South Korea's defence minister resigns over martial law crisis". Al Jazeera. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Park, Anna (5 December 2024). "Martial law commander unaware of situation until Yoon's public announcement". The Korea Times. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ Jin, Hyunjoo (8 December 2024). "South Korea ex-defence minister arrested over President Yoon's martial law". Reuters. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Yoon Suk Yeol: South Korea police raid presidential office over martial law attempt". BBC News. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ^ 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 13 December 2024.
- ^ "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.
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- Living people
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