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Yoon Sung-min

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Yoon Sung-min
윤성민
尹誠敏
Yoon as Minister of National Defense in 1982
Born(1926-10-15)15 October 1926
Muan County, Korea, Empire of Japan
Died6 November 2017(2017-11-06) (aged 91)
Seoul, South Korea
Allegiance South Korea
Service / branch Republic of Korea Army
Years of service 1950~ - 1982
Rank General
CommandsRepublic of Korea Army Deputy Chief of Staff
Commander of the I Corps
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Battles / warsDecember 12th Coup
Other workMinister of National Defense (1982–1986)
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Korea National Oil Corporation
Chairman of the Korea Textile Association
Standing Advisor of Hyundai Oil & Oil Industry

Yoon Sung-min (Korean윤성민; Hanja尹誠敏; 15 October 1926 – 6 November 2017) was a retired general of the Republic of Korea Army, businessman and politician who served as the 23rd Minister of National Defense.

Role in the December 12th Coup

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At the time of the Coup d'état of December Twelfth, he was the deputy Chief of Staff of the Korean army. After the kidnapping of the Chief of Staff Jeong Seung-hwa, he automatically rose to the top position in the army chain of command and took in charge of the whole government forces. However, he was too indecisive to make a quick decision of summoning forces to quell the rebels. He was then easily deceived by the rebel leader Chun Doo-hwan that Yoon ordered a withdrawal of the government force, which gave rebels the opportunity to advance without resistance and eventually take control of the entire Seoul.[1][2]

Unlike most other generals on the government side, who were either demoted or discharged after the incident, Yoon's incompetence during the coup ironically won him favour of Chun Doo-hwan, who promoted him to become the commander of the I Corps.[3]

Later life

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Yoon later became the 23rd Minister of National Defence. After his retirement, he served as chairman of the board of directors of the Korea National Oil Development Corporation, chairman of the Korea Textile Association, standing advisor to Hyundai Precision Corporation, and a special member of the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ Park, Won Gon. "The U.S. Carter Administration and Korea in the 12/12 Incident: Concession of Moral Diplomacy" (PDF). Korean Social Sciences Review. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  2. ^ Han, In Sup (2005). "Kwangju and beyond: Coping with past State Atrocities in South Korea". Human Rights Quarterly. 27 (3): 998–1045. ISSN 0275-0392. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  3. ^ 유강문 (25 September 2019). "'12·12 쿠데타'로 물러난 노재현 전 국방장관 별세". '12·12 쿠데타'로 물러난 노재현 전 국방장관 별세 (in Korean). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  4. ^ 윤성민 前 국방부 장관 별세…9일 합참장. News1 [ko] (in Korean). 6 November 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  5. ^ [부음] 윤성민 前 국방부 장관 별세 외. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 20 July 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2024.