Kim Jang-soo

File:US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates & ROK Minister of Defense Kim Jang-soo.jpg

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates meets with Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Kim Jang-soo during the 39th Security Consultation Meeting at the Ministry of Defense Republic of Korea.

General (Ret.) Kim Jang-soo, ROKA, was the 37th Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army and the 40th Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense. He is currently a Grand National Party Representative in the National Assembly of South Korea. General Kim graduated the Republic of Korea Military Academy in 1971. He graduated Korea National Defense University in 1988, then he earned Master's Degree in Arts at Graduate School of Public Administration, Yonsei University in 1989.

His assignments as a general officer were Chief, Operations Division, First Army (FROKA), Commanding General, 6th Infantry Division (1997-1999), Director, Operational Planning, Joint Chiefs of Staff (1999-2000), Director, Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff (2000-2001), Commanding General, VII Corps (2001-2003), and Chief Director, Joint Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff (2003-2004).

His last assignment prior becoming Army Chief of Staff was Deputy Commander, Republic of Korea - United States (ROK-US) Combined Forces Command.

In April 2005 to November 2006, he served as Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army.

In November 2006 to February 2008, he served as Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense.

Currently, his son serves as a commissioned officer in the Republic of Korea Army.

External links

• http://www.army.mil.kr - Republic of Korea Army (Korean)
• http://www.mnd.mil.kr - Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense (Korean)