Kim Kwan-jin

Kim Kwan-jin (born August 27, 1949) is the current Minister of Defense of South Korea, following his appointment in November 2010. He was previously the 33rd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the South Korean armed forces, and is a retired Republic of Korea Army general.

Early life and education
Kim was born on August 27, 1949, and graduated from the Korea Military Academy in 1971 and obtained his bachelor's degree.

Career
Kim previously served as Commanding General, 35th Infantry Division (1999–2000), Commanding General, II Corps (2002–2004), and Chief Director, Joint Operations Headquarters, Joint Chiefs of Staff (2004–2005). He was promoted to 4-star general and assumed command of Third ROK Army in 2005.

In 2006, he became the 33rd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and replaced General Lee Sang-hee.

On March 28, 2008, he was replaced by General Kim Tae-young.

Following incidents of the bombardment of Yeonpyeong, he was selected to replace Kim Tae-young as a new National Defense Minister of the Republic of Korea on November 26, 2010.

After the end of President Lee Myung-bak's term in office in February 2013, incoming President Park Geun-hye decided to retain Kim in his post of Defense Minister after Park's nominee Kim Byung-kwan was forced to resign under pressure over a series of alleged ethical lapses and North Korea's repeated war threats.