Kim Yong-hyun (general)

Kim Yong-hyun (born 25 June 1959) is a South Korean former three-star army lieutenant general and politician who served as the 49th Minister of National Defense from 6 September 2024 until his resignation on 5 December 2024. Kim previously served in the Republic of Korea Army and led the 17th Infantry Division of the Army from 2010 to 2012, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Chief Directorate of Operations from 2015 until his retirement in 2017. He stepped out of retirement in 2022 to serve 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 became well 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. Under Yoon's administration, Kim was involved in the presidential office’s relocation from the Blue House to the Yongsan District. The relocation led to Yoon living alongside other military generals.

On 3 December 2024, Kim advised President Yoon to impose martial law during a last-minute cabinet meeting. Shortly after, Yoon ultimately declared martial law. 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. After the National Assembly filed an impeachment motion against him, Kim resigned from his position two days later.

It was soon revealed that Kim had been planning martial law alongside Yoon for several months, including the entirety of his tenure as Minister of National Defense. On 8 December, Kim was arrested for his role in the declaration. He later attempted suicide inside the bathroom of the detention facility he was being held in shortly before a warrant could be filed against him. As of June 2025, Kim has been charged with insurrection, obstruction of justice, and tampering with evidence, and he faces either life imprisonment or the death penalty if found guilty.