News

Mr. KIM Taeup

Accomplishments or support for the ROK-U.S. Alliance:

Army BG(R) Kim Taeup contributed greatly to the ROK-U.S. alliance. During his 33-year military service, he spent more than 15 years working with the U.S. Army and U.N. forces, served as the second Deputy Commanding General of ROK of the ROK-U.S. Combined Division which is the first and unique division in the world, and was the first Deputy Commanding General of ROK of the U.S. Eighth Army, contributing greatly to the defense of the Korean Peninsula and strengthening of the ROK-U.S. military alliance with the U.S. Forces Korea generals at the forefront of the ROK-U.S. alliance. As a POL-MIL Adviser to the Eighth Army, he has been working at the forefront of the ROK-U.S. alliance until today in charge of explaining the situation and political situation of the Korean military and seeking understanding of Korea’s culture to the leaders of the Eighth Army.

Volunteer efforts:

BG(R) Kim Taeup usually volunteers and does a lot of good community service activities. In particular, while working as an advisor to the Korea-US Children’s Culture Association, a volunteer organization for the U.S. Forces in Korea, he has been working since 2021 to make Kimchi making event for U.S. soldiers and their families in November every year, allowing them to experience Korean culture. In addition, he has cooperated with heads of local governments in Pyeongtaek, Asan, and Suwon, which are nearby Humphrey Base, to help U.S. soldiers and their families participate in local government festivals (Hanmaum Festival, Suwon Hwaseong Festival, General Yi Sun-shin Festival, ceramics festival, marathon competition, etc.). He also helps U.S. soldiers and their families minimize the inconvenience in living in Korea as a member of the USO Council, and introduces good Korean culture to U.S. soldiers and their families in consultation with Korean Good Neighbors organizations in the event of US Army ball, he regularly makes donations for African donor organization, Good Neighbor and Doctors Without Borders.

Short biography:

General Kim Taeup graduated from the Korea Military Academy in 1987 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry and served as a major commander and staff member in various parts of the front and rear areas of Korea and abroad area. He spent more than 15 years in the ROK-US alliance field out of 33 years in the military. He served as the first DCG-R of the U.S. Eighth Army, the second DCG-R of the ROK-US Combined Division, and the DC5 of CFC. He served with U.S. soldiers on the battlefield while serving as the MNF-I civil-military operations officer in Iraq, the interpreter officer, and the G3 of the ROK Regiment unit for supporting the Afghanistan War, and served as the PAO of the UNMOGIP(United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan) HQ when he was a major and the ROK Regiment  Commander of the UNIFIL(United Nation Interim Forces in Lebanon) when he was a colonel. He was the second Korean general to complete the UN’s Senior Leaders Program. He served as a special professor at Seoul Cyber University, the Secretary General of the KDVA-KR, the director of the International Peace Activities Center of the Defense Diplomatic Association, and the advisor to the ROK MND and the Army Headquarters. He completed his master’s degree in international graduate school at Hanseong University, his doctorate in politics at Washington International University, and his degree in chief executive officer at Seoul National University.

Statement from the nominator about the nominee’s qualities:

Not only was BG(R)  Kim Taeup directly dedicated to strengthening the ROK-US alliance, but he is still greatly dedicated to the ROK-US alliance at the cutting edge of the ROK-US alliance as a political and military adviser to the US Eighth Army. When he was active, he contributed greatly to reaching an agreement between Korea and the United States in the areas of Korea-US policy, such as the THAAD conflict and SOFA issues, and he contributed greatly to resolving the conflict through smooth cooperation between the ROK Army and the US Army in the event of a conflict caused by RLFC. During his two years as Secretary General of KDVA-KR, he greatly improved his KDVA membership under the guidance of Chairman Lee Seo-young and contributed greatly to informing the US Junior soldiers of the importance of the ROK-US alliance through the Education Conference. General Kim is confident that he will greatly serve and dedicate himself to the ROK-US alliance field in the future.