Kim Yong-hyun
Kim Yong-hyun | |
|---|---|
김용현 | |
Kim in 2024 | |
| Minister of National Defense | |
| In office 6 September 2024 – 5 December 2024 | |
| President | Yoon Suk Yeol |
| Prime Minister | Han Duck-soo |
| Preceded by | Shin Won-sik |
| Succeeded by | Kim Seon-ho (acting) Ahn Gyu-back |
| Chief of the Presidential Security Service | |
| In office 11 May 2022 – 6 September 2024 | |
| President | Yoon Suk Yeol |
| Preceded by | Yoo Yeon-sang |
| Succeeded by | Park Jong-joon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 June 1959 Masan, South Korea |
| Other political affiliations | Chungam Faction (since 2022) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Chungam High School Korea Military Academy |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Republic of Korea Army |
| Years of service | 1982–2017 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Criminal information | |
| Movement | 2024 martial law |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center |
| Convictions | 3 counts |
| Criminal penalty | 30 years imprisonment |
Date apprehended | 8 December 2024 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김용현 |
| Hanja | 金龍顯 |
| RR | Gim Yonghyeon |
| MR | Kim Yonghyŏn |
Kim Yong-hyun (Korean: 김용현; born 25 June 1959) is a South Korean former three-star army lieutenant general and politician who served as the Minister of National Defense from 6 September 2024 until his resignation on 5 December 2024. Kim previously served in the Republic of Korea Army from 1982 until he was discharged in 2017. Kim later served as the Chief of the Presidential Security Service from 11 May 2022 until his Minister of National Defense confirmation on 6 September 2024.
During his political career, Kim was widely known for his close personal ties with President Yoon Suk Yeol, as the two have known each other since high school. Kim graduated one year ahead of Yoon shortly before entering the military. The two became close friends in 2020, following Yoon's suspension as prosecutor general. After Yoon was elected as president in 2022, Yoon appointed Kim as Presidential Security Service Chief. The two later formed a faction within the military and government consisting of their fellow high school alumni, known as the Chungam Faction.
On 3 December 2024, Kim advised President Yoon to impose martial law during a last-minute cabinet meeting. Shortly after, Yoon ultimately declared emergency martial law across the nation. Through the martial law order, Kim ordered military personnel to enter the National Assembly and prevent lawmakers from gathering to vote down the declaration. However the attempt to do so failed as 190 lawmakers made it into the parliament and unanimously voted to lift the martial law only a few hours later on 4 December. After the National Assembly filed an impeachment motion against him, Kim resigned the following day. He attempted to flee the country to avoid prosecution, but was travel barred by the Ministry of Justice.
It was soon revealed that Kim had been planning martial law alongside Yoon for several months. He was appointed Defense Minister as part of a martial law strategy to prevent First Lady Kim Keon Hee from going to prison, as she was subject to several allegations of misconduct including the falsification of academic and financial reports. On 8 December, Kim was arrested for his role in the declaration. Kim would later attempt suicide inside the bathroom of the detention facility he was being held in, shortly before a warrant could be filed against him.
On 19 February 2026, Kim Yong-hyun was sentenced to 30 years in prison.