Kim Tae-young (Korean김태영; born 13 January 1949) was the 34th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and 42nd Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense.

Kim Tae-young
김태영
Minister of National Defense
In office
23 September 2009 – 3 December 2010
PresidentLee Myung-bak
Preceded byLee Sang-hee
Succeeded byKim Kwan-jin
Personal details
Born (1949-01-13) 13 January 1949 (age 75)
Seoul, South Korea
Alma materKorea Military Academy
Sogang University
Military service
Allegiance South Korea
Branch/service Republic of Korea Army
Years of service1967-2009
Rank Daejang
CommandsJoint Chiefs of Staff
Korean name
Hangul
김태영
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim Tae-yeong
McCune–ReischauerKim T'aeyŏng

Kim served as a Conscript in an Infantry Regiment that was deployed in Vietnam in the final stages of the Korean withdrawal from Vietnam. After his compulsory service he was recommended for Officer School, and graduated from the Republic of Korea Military Academy in 1972 in the Self-Propelled Artillery branch. He has served as Commanding General, 6th Artillery Brigade (1997–1998), Commanding General, 35th Infantry Division (1999–2000), Commanding General, Capital Defense Command (2004–2005), and Chief Director, Joint Operations Headquarters, Joint Chiefs of Staff (2005–2006).

Prior to assuming the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2008, he was Commanding General of the First ROK Army.

In September 2009, he replaced Lee Sang-Hee as the 42nd Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense.

Despite being considered as a good military officer with his skill from both inside and outside of the ROK military, he started to suffer strong criticism after the sinking of ROKS Cheonan. In May 2010, he offered his resignation to President Lee Myung-bak, although it wasn't accepted.

On 25 November 2010, he stepped down from his post as Minister of Defense in the wake of criticism he received for his handling of the shelling of Yeonpyeong.[1] The next day it was announced that his successor would be Kim Kwan-Jin, his JCS Chairmanship predecessor.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "South Korean defence minister resigns over deadly clash". BBC News Online. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  2. ^ "S Korea names Kim Kwan-jin, former JCS chief, as new defense minister". Xinhua. 28 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
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Military offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
&
Chief Director of the Joint Defense Headquarters

2008-2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense
2009 - 2010
Succeeded by