본문 바로가기
  • Home
Basic Search

The development of Military Elite Groups in the ROK Army under the influence of the Korean Military Advisory Group(KMAG)

Yoon Si-won 1

1국방부군사편찬연구소

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Immediately after the establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea on August 15, 1948, the domestic situation was unstable. Under these circumstances, control of the military was crucial. The main problem was the management of the high-ranking officers who formed the military leadership. The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Military Advisory Group (KMAG) made efforts to create a politically stable officer corps. However, the two sides took different approaches. Lee Bum-seok, the first minister of defense, tried to build an army based on anti-communism. Lee's emphasis on the political ideology of the military led to conflicts with American military advisors. Lee appointed politically reliable personnel from the former Korean Independence Army and the former Japanese army officers. Military advisors tried to appoint officers from the Korean Constabulary, which they had promoted during the United States Army Military Government in Korea, to head the Korean army. This led to Lee's conflict with the American military advisers. Military advisers were able to exert pressure on the Korean Ministry of Defense through the US military aid. However, Lee Bum-seok had influence not only in the military but also in the political community. From 1948 to the beginning of 1949, despite the pressure from the United States, Lee was able to carry out his intention in the personnel management of the military leadership. Lee Bum-seok was in political conflict with President Syngman Rhee. Eventually, Lee Bum-seok resigned as minister of defense because of the conflict with President Syngman Rhee. Things changed when Shin Sung-mo took office as Minister of National Defense in March 1949. Shin was supportive of the American military advisers and critical of the ex-Kuomintang army and ex-Korean Independence Army officers whom Lee Bum-seok had promoted. The appointment of Chae Byong-duk, who was in his 30s, as army chief of staff also benefited the Americans. Although Chae was close to Lee Bum-seok, he was critical of the high-ranking officers in their 40s and 50s supported by Lee. Chae and the American military advisers had a common interest. Young ROK army officers in their 20s and 30s took control of the military leadership after the dismissal of Kim Suk-won, the commander of the 1st Division, who was at odds with Chae. Just before the Korean War, the leadership of the Korean army was dominated by young officers. Chae Byong-duk was at the center of this group.

Statistics

  • 50 Viewed
  • 0 Downloaded

Tools

Issue List

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

Basic Search Advanced Search