Jeong Kyeong-doo

Jeong Kyeong-doo (Korean: 정경두; born 13 September 1960) is the 46th Minister of National Defense of South Korea.[2][3] He was a former fighter pilot and General of the Republic of Korea Air Force serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Air Force Chief of Staff.

In this Korean name, the family name is Jeong.
Jeong Kyeong-doo
정경두
Minister of National Defense
In office
21 September 2018 – 18 September 2020
PresidentMoon Jae-in
Preceded bySong Young-moo
Succeeded bySuh Wook
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
In office
2017–2018
PresidentMoon Jae-in
Preceded byGen. Lee Sun-jin
Succeeded byGen. Park Han-ki
Chief of Staff of the Air Force
In office
2015–2017
PresidentPark Geun-hye
Preceded byGen. Choi Cha-kyu
Succeeded byGen. Lee Wang-keun
Personal details
Born (1960-09-13) 13 September 1960[1]
Jinju, South Korea
Alma materKorea Air Force Academy
Hannam University
Military service
Allegiance South Korea
Branch/service Republic of Korea Air Force
Years of service1982–2020
Rank General
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJeong Gyeongdu
McCune–ReischauerChŏng Kyŏngdu

Early life and education

Jeong was born on September 13, 1960, in Jinju, South Korea. He graduated from Daea High School in 1978. Jeong graduated from the Korea Air Force Academy in 1982. He studied at the Air Command and Staff Course (in 1995) and the Air War Course (in 2005) of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), Jeong also has a MA in Management of the Graduate School of Business, Hannam University in 2002.[1]

Career

Jeong received his commission from the Air Force Academy in 1982. In 2004, he was promoted to Colonel, serving as Chief of the Force Requirement Division at the Air Force HQ from 2006 to 2008, and Cadets Group Commander, Air Force Academy from 2008 to 2009. After his promotion to brigadier general in 2009, he was made Commander of the 1st Fighter Wing in Gwangju Air Base (2009-2011). Other major assignments including Commander, Force Service Support Group-Gyeryongdae (2011), Deputy Chief of Staff (A-5) of the Air Force HQ (2011-2013), Commander of the Southern Combat Command (2013-2014), Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (2014-2015), Chief Director (J-5) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2015) before promoted to four-star rank to serve as the Air Force Chief of Staff in 2015.[1]

Upon the beginning of Moon Jae-in's presidency in 2017, Jeong was appointed as chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff - the second air force background to assume such post.[4] In 2018 he was promoted to as Moon's second defense minister.

Controversy

The "Republic of Korea Guardian Reserve Forces", a newly formed group of Korean Armed Forces retired generals and reservists led by General Paik Sun-yup, which its members included three former defense ministers, a former chief of the South Korean joint chiefs of staff, and commanders of the navy and marines, oppose the Sept. 19 agreement of President Moon Jae-in due to the engagement with North Korea has gone too far. The group of retired generals condemned Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo for "pandering to politicians".[5]

Religion

Jeong follows the Protestantism religion.

Effective dates of promotion
Promotions[1]
InsigniaRankDate
GeneralSeptember 2015
Lieutenant GeneralApril 2014
Major GeneralNovember 2011
Brigadier GeneralApril 2009
ColonelDecember 2004

References
  1. "Chief of Staff Biography". Republic of Korea Air Force. Archived from the original on 2017-08-11. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
  2. "Minister Profile". Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense. Archived from the original on 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  3. "New defense chief vows to buttress Korea peace efforts". Yonhapnews. 2018-09-21. Archived from the original on 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  4. "정부, 합참의장·육군·공군총장 등 임명 :". 대전일보 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2023-03-10. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  5. "Retired South Korean generals: Our country is in 'crisis' :". UPI. Archived from the original on 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
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