The Man North Korea “Feared the Most” Kim Kwan-jin Returns

2023-5-12, Tara O

Kim Kwan-jin

On May 10, 2023, President Yoon Suk-yeol appointed Kim Kwan-jin as the Vice Chairman of the National Defense Innovation Commission (국방혁신위원회) (the president is the chairman).  Kim is also appointed as the chairman of the Special Advisory Committee on Defense Innovation (국방혁신특별자문위원회).

The National Defense Innovation Commission leads the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) on South Korea’s defense policy, while the Special Advisory Committee on Defense Innovation deliberates on major issues of “Defense Innovation 4.0,” which focuses on strengthening science and technology, including the introduction of AI (artificial intelligence) and unmanned systems, and advises the Minister of Defense.

Minister Kim Kwan-jin served as the National Security Advisor under President Park Geun-hye and the Minister of Defense under President Lee Myong-bak.  After the Cheonan sinking and the Yeonpyeong Island attacks, both by North Korea, Kim Kwan-jin demonstrated strength by implementing three counter-provocation policies, including “striking the originating point of provocation,” “attacking enemy commands,” and “preemptive action first, report later.”  As such, he has been known to be feared by North Korea.

During the Moon Jae-in administration, he was one of the main targets for Moon’s purge.  As part of Moon Jae-in’s campaign of Jeokpae Cheongsan (“liquidation of the accumulated evil”),  he was arrested and jailed in 2017 in connection with Cyber Command’s efforts to counter North Korea’s subversive online comments. The Moon administration interpreted the Cyber Command’s countermeasures as interfering in domestic politics.  Last year, the Supreme Court reversed part of the lower court’s decision, but others cases seen as being concocted by the Moon administration for “witch hunt” purposes, still remain.

As the Chairman of the Special Advisory Committee on Defense Innovation, Kim Kwan-jin will hold the first plenary meeting of the committee at the Ministry of National Defense building on April 17, 2023.