Kim Chong-kon

Kim Chong-kon (Korean: 김종곤; born 21 November 1930) is a former South Korean admiral, diplomat and politician, serving as the Chief of Naval Operations, the Ambassadors to the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan, and a member of National Assembly before retirement. Started his military career in 1951, Kim participated several maritime operations during the Korean War and the Cold War, assigned to positions like warship commander, flotilla commander, naval station commander, fleet commander and senior staff in the Navy Headquarters. Kim also gained himself several medals from South Korea and Taiwan for his efforts on military and foreign affairs.

Belonging to the Gimhae Kim clan, Kim Chong-kon was born in Miryang, Keishō-nandō of the Japanese Korea (now South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea) on November 21, 1930, and spent years studying at Jinhae High School. On September 1, 1948, Kim attend the Korea Naval Academy, and was commissioned as an Ensign after graduating with the 4th class on August 31, 1951. In his beginning career as naval officer, Kim was an active chief for PT boat repair during the Korean War, and saw operations with different scale in places like offshore Wonsan, north of the 38th parallel. In 1953, he went to the United States for a six-month study, learning maintenance knowledge at a naval yard in Virginia. He was also awarded the Chungmu's Order of Military Merit with silver star in 1953 for participating the war.

In 1954, Kim Chong-kon was promoted to Lieutenant and a PT boat leader. During his years as field officer, he assumed command of vessels like LSM-613 Ulleung (울릉; from August 1, 1956 to November 7, 1957) and PCEC-53 Hansan (한산; from July 5, 1962 to August 3, 1963), later a professor at the Joint Forces Staff College (JFCS) in 1964. On April 6, 1966, he became captain of the destroyer DD-91 Chungmu (충무), and saw combat against a North Korean spy ship at night on October 10. Kim, commanding Chungmu on a security mission at Japan Sea, encountered the North Korean vessel on territorial waters between the 38th parallel and Ulleungdo, and sank it with bombardment after a three-hour chase. For the victory of Chungmu, Kim received the Hwarang's Order of Military Merit.

On January 31, 1967, Kim ended his tenure as the captain of Chungmu, and was assigned to a naval station (해군통제부) as its chief of staff in 1968. On 1970, he officially gained the rank of Rear Admiral lower half, becoming commander of South Korean Navy's 2nd Flotilla. Other major assignments included the commander of Inchon Guard District (1971), Deputy Chief of Staff for G3-Operations, commander of the naval station (1973), commander of the Korean Fleet (1975) and Vice Chief of Naval Operations (1977). On April 16, 1979, he was promoted to full Admiral and was appointed as the 12th Chief of Naval Operations. In 1980 he also worked as a member of the Special Committee for National Security Measures (SCNSM), a junta-like committee establish by coup d'état leader Chun Doo-hwan (who was seizing state power as then-Defense Security Commander).

Kim Chong-kon retired from the post as Chief of Naval Operations on May 14, 1981, and was later appointed as the country's Ambassador to the ROC on July 25. He arrived at Taipei on August 18 to assume his new office, handing in the Letter of credence on August 25. During his term as the foremost Korean representative to the ROC, Kim saw the hijacking of CAAC Flight 296, which led to a diplomatic dispute between Seoul and Taipei because the six hijackers defecting from Shenyang, People's Republic of China (PRC) was in custody after landing on South Korean soil. Taipei, however, regarded them as anti-communist patriots, and ask the Koreans to release them to Taiwan. Kim took the role of communicator for this incident for nearly one year, passing the Taiwanese public opinion to Seoul, and suggest the latter to carry out administrative remedies as solution. The six was finally allowed to depart from Korea and headed for Taiwan in 1984.

On April 11, 1985, the South Korean government announced the replacement of its six ambassadors abroad, with Kim Chong-kon's post succeeded by Kim Sang-tae, a former Air Force Chief of Staff. The ROC government awarded Kim Chong-kon with Order of Brilliant Star (2nd rank) for his contribution in enhancing Korea-Taiwan relation and cooperation as ambassador on May 3. After returning to Korea, Kim remained as an Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until April 8, 1986. He later launched into politics and was elected in 1988 as a member of the 13th National Assembly from Democratic Justice Party (DJP), then ruling party of South Korea which merged with the Unification Democratic Party (UDP) and New Democratic Republican Party (RP) to form the new Democratic Liberal Party (later New Korea Party) in 1990.

Kim Chong-kon married Kim Sang-jo (김상조), with whom he has three sons: Myung-joon (명준), Hee-joon (희준) and Seong-joon (성준). The former two also joined the navy, graduated as Officer cadets 70th class and 71st class. A Christian, Kim's hobbies included reading classical novels/historical stories and playing ball games. After retirement, he joined an advisory council of reserve admirals (해군 예비역장성 자문회의) hosted by Admiral An Pyong-tae, then-Chief of Naval Operations, in 1996. In 1998 he was also elected as the 5th Vice President of the Korean Retired Generals and Admirals Association (성우회).

Besides medals like the Chungmu's Order of Military Merit with silver star in 1953, the Hwarang's Order of Military Merit in 1966 and the Taiwanese Order of Brilliant Star 2nd rank in 1985, Kim was also awarded the Order of National Security Merit 4th rank (1968), Cheon-Su Medal (1971), Tong-il Medal (1979) and the Eulji's Order of Military Merit (1980).