Kwak Jong-geun
Kwak Jong-geun | |
|---|---|
곽종근 | |
Kwak in 2025 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1968 South Chungcheong Province, South Korea |
| Other political affiliations | Chungam Faction (since 2022) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Chungam High School Korea Military Academy |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Republic of Korea Army |
| Years of service | since 1991 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 곽종근 |
| Hanja | 郭種根 |
| RR | Gwak Jonggeun |
| MR | Kwak Chonggŭn |
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Kwak Jong-geun (Korean: 곽종근; born 1 January 1968) is a South Korean three-star army lieutenant general who served as the 32nd Chief of the Army Special Warfare Command from 2023 to 2025. Kwak has served in the Republic of Korea Army since 1991. He is widely known for his role in the 2024 martial law crisis.
After being denied the rank three times by previous administrations, Kwak became a lieutenant general under the administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Kwak was also nominated as Chief of the Army Special Warfare Command, despite having no experience within the Special Warfare Command. It is speculated that Kwak only received these promotions for being loyal to Yoon.
On 3 December 2024, President Yoon declared emergency martial law during a televised address. Yoon ordered Kwak and Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo to seize the legislature in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from voting down the declaration. Despite this, 190 lawmakers managed to make it into the National Assembly where they voted unanimously to lift the martial law. Yoon lifted the martial law a few hours later.
On 6 December, Kwak's duties were temporarily suspended by the Ministry of Justice when his role in the declaration was discovered. On 16 December, Kwak was arrested for his involvement, On 6 February 2025, a leave of absence from prosecution was issued against Kwak by the military for his imprisonment. His trial began on 26 March, where he confessed to all of the charges filed against him. On 4 April, he was released from prison on bail.