{"id":2206245,"date":"2024-08-22T18:22:34","date_gmt":"2024-08-22T09:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2206245"},"modified":"2024-08-23T17:56:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T08:56:32","slug":"shin-won-sik-hawkish-ex-general-as-national-security-adviser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/08\/shin-won-sik-hawkish-ex-general-as-national-security-adviser\/","title":{"rendered":"Shin Won-sik: Hawkish ex-general as National Security Adviser"},"content":{"rendered":"
President Yoon Suk-yeol appointed defense minister Shin Won-sik as South Korea\u2019s new National Security Adviser (NSA), a move that signals a shift toward a more assertive National Security Office.<\/span><\/p>\n The ruling party praised Shin\u2019s appointment, while the opposition expressed concerns about the need for measured diplomacy.<\/span><\/p>\n Shin, a retired three-star lieutenant general and former People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker, brings decades of military experience to the role. He has a reputation for speaking frankly and also speaking at length to the press and parliament about his views on defense-related issues.<\/span><\/p>\n Shin\u2019s ascension to the NSA position comes in the latter half of the president\u2019s term as it approaches a potential lame-duck period, contrasting with the previous focus on discreet negotiations with key partners such as the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n The president\u2019s decision to appoint Shin also hints at Yoon\u2019s intention to have him lead the institutionalization of U.S.-ROK-Japan security cooperation until the end of the president\u2019s term \u2014 a goal Shin passionately pursued throughout his tenure as defense minister.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Shin\u2019s history of provocative statements against progressive political figures and independence fighters, allegations of government meddling in the investigation into a marine\u2019s death last year, and his previous hardline remarks about China present diplomatic and crisis management risks.<\/span><\/p>\n EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE<\/b><\/p>\n Shin\u2019s career spans over three decades in the military and politics. He graduated from the Korea Military Academy in 1981 and served in various key military positions. For instance, he headed the Capital Defense Command and later served as a director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). He held the role of vice chairman of the JCS until he retired in 2016.<\/span><\/p>\n After retiring from the military, Shin entered politics. Despite an unsuccessful run in the 2016 general election, he persisted, joining the Bareun Mirae Party and serving as a security adviser for centrist conservative politician Yoo Seong-min during the latter\u2019s 2017 presidential bid.<\/span><\/p>\n Shin\u2019s efforts paid off in 2020 when he won a seat as a proportional representative for the United Future Party, the predecessor of the current PPP.<\/span><\/p>\n As a member of the National Assembly\u2019s defense committee, Shin became known for his vocal criticism of the previous Moon Jae-in administration\u2019s defense policies and attitudes toward North Korea and China.<\/span><\/p>\n He vehemently criticized the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement, known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement, and <\/span>led<\/span><\/a> the <\/span>withdrawal<\/span><\/a> from the <\/span>agreement<\/span><\/a> when he became Yoon\u2019s defense minister last year.<\/span><\/p>\n