Kim Jang-soo, Minister of National Defense

Date of Birth February 26, 1948 Place of Birth Gwangju, South Jeolla Province Education 1989 Master's Degree in Government Administration, Yonsei University 1988 Graduated from Graduate School for National Defense, the Korea National Defense University 1971 Graduated from the Korea Military Academy 1967 Graduated from Kwangju Jeil High School Career Nov. 23, 2006 - present 40th Minister of National Defense 2005 - 2006 37th Army Chief of Staff 2004 - 2005 Deputy Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command 2003 - 2004 Operations Chief Director, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) 2001 - 2003 7th Corps Commanding General 2000 - 2001 JCS Operations Director 1999 - 2000 JCS Operational Planning Director 1997 - 1999 6th Infantry Division Commanding General 1996 - 1997 1st Army Operations Division Chief 1994 - 1996 Cadet Corps Commandant, Korea Military Academy 1989 - 1991 5th Regiment Commander, 7th Mechanized Infantry Division 1971 Commissioned as second sublieutenant of infantry Awards and Medals 2006 United States Legion of Merit 2002 Order of National Security Merit Gukson Medal 1996 Order of National Security Merit Chonsu Medal