A former soldier's reflection on Kang Shin-cheol, the nominee for Defense Minister and current ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has garnered attention.
On August 30, a post appeared on an online community from a soldier who served under Kang when he was the commander of the Army's 11th Division 9th Brigade.
The author, identified as A, recalled that Kang was a brigade commander who had primarily worked in the Ministry of Defense and the Blue House before his first assignment to a field unit. "He was someone who rose quickly through the ranks to become a brigade commander, which made the troops quite nervous," A wrote.
However, A noted that during individual meetings with about ten soldiers, Kang advised them, "Do not serve for others or the country, but for yourself. The most important thing in your life is you. Do not waste the two years you have here in preparation for when you enter society." A found this message particularly striking, especially since it was a time when the military had not yet fully embraced the emphasis on soldiers' self-development, rights, and welfare, and when abuse within the ranks had not completely disappeared.
A also explained that Kang was quick to address soldiers' suggestions and demands for improvement, always keeping his promises. "He ensured that rewards for performance were clear," A recalled, noting that Kang emphasized that "a well-rested military is a strong military," granting combat leave to soldiers who returned from training exercises lasting over a week. This approach fostered a sense of unity among the troops and led to high training performance.
One of the most memorable anecdotes A shared was from a march during a special forces training exercise. According to A, the distance covered during the training was about 40 kilometers out and 60 kilometers back, and typically, battalion commanders would use vehicles for transportation.
However, A recounted, "While we were marching, I glanced to my left and saw the brigade commander. He marched with us both going and returning." A described Kang as the most admirable adult he had ever encountered, stating, "I want to be like him when I turn 50."
Kang continued to rise through the ranks, becoming a four-star general and serving as the deputy commander of the U.S.-South Korea Combined Forces Command during the Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk-yeol administrations. He gained public attention for his response to North Korean drone provocations.
After learning about Kang's past, A searched online for more information and noted, "I found numerous anecdotes from different units, confirming that he is still an impressive person." A added, "Regardless of the Moon and Yoon administrations, the reason he is highly regarded seems to stem from his character."
The post has sparked interest among netizens regarding Kang's leadership and actions as a military commander. Reactions varied, with some stating, "Politics is another realm, but he is undoubtedly an impressive person," while others commented, "The challenge is how to integrate the three armies," and "Rather than just anecdotes, he needs to show his future actions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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