Suh Wook
서욱
Suh as Army general
Minister of National Defense
In office
18 September 2020 – 10 May 2022
PresidentMoon Jae-in
Preceded byJeong Kyeong-doo
Succeeded byLee Jong-sup
Chief of Staff of the Army
In office
16 April 2019 – 18 September 2020
PresidentMoon Jae-in
Preceded byKim Yong-woo
Succeeded byNam Yeong-shin
Personal details
Born (1963-05-12) 12 May 1963 (age 60)
Gwangju, South Korea
Alma materKorea Military Academy
Military service
Allegiance South Korea
Branch/service Republic of Korea Army
Years of service1985–2020
Rank General

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]

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

Promotions
Insignia Rank Year
General 2019
Lieutenant General 2016
Major General 2014
Brigadier General 2010

References

  1. ^ "Republic of Korea Army". www.army.mil.kr. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  2. ^ "South Korean army's chief of staff nominated to serve as new defense minister".
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "South Korea nominates Army Chief of Staff Suh Wook as new defense minister | NK News". NK News. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  5. ^ "Army Chief of Staff Gen. Suh Wook named as new defense minister". The Korea Times. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  6. ^ "Minister Suh Wook Profile".
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20221017000739
  9. ^ https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/10/23/national/politics/Korea-defense-minister-Coast-Guard/20221023152626553.html
  10. ^ "서욱 :: 네이버 인물검색". people.search.naver.com. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
Military offices Preceded byKim Yong-woo Chief of Staff of the Army 2019–2020 Succeeded byNam Yeong-shin Political offices Preceded byJeong Kyeong-doo Minister of National Defense 2020–2022 Succeeded byLee Jong-sup
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