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Kim Seon-ho (general)

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Kim Seon-ho
Minister of National Defense
Acting[1]
5 December 2024 – 26 June 2025
PresidentYoon Suk Yeol
Han Duck-soo (acting)
Choi Sang-mok (acting)
Lee Ju-ho (acting)
Lee Jae-myung
Prime MinisterHan Duck-soo
Choi Sang-mok (acting)
Preceded byKim Yong-hyun
Succeeded byLee Doo-hee (acting)
Deputy Minister of National Defense
In office
20 October 2023 – 26 June 2025
PresidentYoon Suk Yeol
Han Duck-soo (acting)
Choi Sang-mok (acting)
Lee Ju-ho(acting)
Lee Jae-myung
Prime MinisterHan Duck-soo
Choi Sang-mok (acting)
Lee Ju-ho (acting)
Preceded byShin Beom-chul
Succeeded byLee Doo-hee
Personal details
Born1964 (age 60–61)
Seoul, South Korea
Political partyIndependent
Military service
Allegiance South Korea
Branch/serviceRepublic of Korea Army
Years of service1987–2020
RankLieutenant general
CommandsCapital Defense Command
Korean name
Hangul
김선호
Hanja
金善鎬
RRGim Seonho
MRKim Sŏnho

Kim Seon-ho (Korean김선호; born 1964) is a South Korean politician and retired Republic of Korea Army lieutenant general.[2] He served as acting Minister of National Defense of South Korea from December 2024 to June 2025.

On 5 December 2024, during an investigation by the National Assembly, he accused national defense minister Kim Yong-hyun of having ordered soldiers to enter the National Assembly and prevent lawmakers from gathering to vote down the martial law declaration.[3]

Career

[edit]

Kim graduated from the Korea Military Academy.[4]

Prior to becoming the acting Minister of National Defense of South Korea, Kim served as Deputy Minister of National Defense of South Korea under Yoon Suk Yeol's Government.[5] As deputy minister, Kim condemned North Korea's deployment of troops in support of Russia in its war with Ukraine, and raised concerns that the North will most probably use the intelligence and funds it receives in return to advance its nuclear weapons.[6]

Amidst the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis, Kim became acting minister of national defense of South Korea after Kim Yong-hyun resigned on 5 December 2024.[7] Furthermore, according to him, Yong-hyun had ordered troops to enter the National Assembly and block lawmakers from entering the compound during martial law.[3]

Kim has stated that the defense ministry and the military will not obey any orders to execute martial law should they be issued again, amid rumors over the possibility of another martial law declaration.[8]

Kim served as acting minister for a month of Lee Jae Myung's term, before being replaced as vice-minister by Lee Doo-hee on 26 June 2025.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kim, Hyung-Jin; Kim, Tong-Hyung (4 December 2024). "South Korean president replaces defense minister as parliament nears vote on impeaching both". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  2. ^ Lee, Haye-ah (19 October 2024). "Yoon picks former Capital Defense commander as vice defense minister". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b 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 14 December 2024.
  4. ^ Lee, Haye-ah (19 October 2024). "Yoon picks former Capital Defense commander as vice defense minister". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  5. ^ Lee, Haye-ah (19 October 2023). "Yoon picks former Capital Defense commander as vice defense minister". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Vice defense minister condemns N. Korean troop deployment in ASEAN-led meeting". The Korea Times. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  7. ^ Seo, Yoojung (4 December 2024). "South Korean president accepts defense minister's resignation amid backlash over martial law move". CNN. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  8. ^ Lee, Minji (6 December 2024). "(2nd LD) Acting defense minister says won't obey any orders for martial law if issued again". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2 May 2025.