Vice Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul has been named the new Navy chief of staff.

The Ministry of National Defense said on the 23rd that it will promote Vice Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul, the commander of the Fleet Command, to admiral and assign him to the post. Kim is set to be appointed on the 24th after a review by the Cabinet meeting.

At the Republic of Korea Fleet Command in Nam-gu, Busan, Fleet Commander Kim Gyeong-ryul (center), Samho Jewelry captain Seok Hae-gyun, and former Chief of Naval Operations Hwang Ki-cheol, who served as fleet commander at the time, receive bouquets from Navy Supporters students and pose for a commemorative photo. /Courtesy of Republic of Korea Fleet Command

Kim was commissioned as a member of the 47th class of the Naval Academy. He later served as director of the defense policy division at the Ministry of National Defense, chief of personnel (J1) at the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, commander of the 5th Mine/Amphibious Squadron, commander of the 3rd Fleet, superintendent of the Naval Academy, and commander of the Fleet Command.

An official at the Ministry of National Defense said Kim, an expert in defense policy and operations, has the operational command ability and military expertise to firmly uphold Korea's maritime sovereignty amid the current security situation on the Korean Peninsula and an unstable international security environment.

The Ministry of National Defense placed Kang on suspension from duty on the 13th of last month, citing alleged involvement in emergency martial law, and on the 5th imposed a one-month suspension for reasons including breach of the duty of diligence.

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