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Take the Lead in Restoring the Honor and Trust of Our Military

Ministry of National Defense, Republic of Korea

Date : 2025-11-28

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back awards the Samjeong Sword.
Presented to 89 officers promoted or slated for promotion to brigadier general.
Uphold constitutional values as the military of the people.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back awards the Samjeong Sword to newly promoted brigadier generals at the Ministry of National Defense Convention Center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Nov. 19.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back presented Samjeong Sword to 89 officers promoted or scheduled for promotion to brigadier general, urging them to lead their units in restoring the honor and trust of our military.

The 89 officers who received the Samjeong Sword included those selected for promotion to brigadier general last year who had not yet received their promotion orders, as well as officers who have been promoted to brigadier general with promotion orders issued since June 1, 2024.

At the ceremony, Minister Ahn delivered a congratulatory message to the promoted generals and their families, emphasizing, "Be dedicated to the unique mission of the military as the people's force that upholds constitutional values."

The Samjeong Sword is a royal gift from the President, presented since 1983 to key military positions. It serves to encourage promoted generals to uphold their loyalty and sense of mission to the nation and the people. The Samjeong Sword has been awarded to generals promoted to brigadier general since 1987, and is crafted in the shape of the Sa-in-geom (Four Tiger Sword), a traditional Korean sword recognized for its cultural and historical significance.

Presidential gifts presented to general officers consist of three items: the Samjeong Sword, a command baton, and a ceremonial streamer called suchi. The Samjeong Sword symbolizes the unity of the Army, Navy, and Air Force in achieving the spirit of national defense, unification, and prosperity. The suchi is a ribbon-like ceremonial streamer awarded to officers promoted to lieutenant general or higher. It is embroidered with the general's position, name, appointment date, and the name of the President at the time of conferment.

Until 2017, the Samjeong Sword was awarded to officers promoted to brigadier general by the Minister of National Defense. Since 2018, the President has awarded the swords at an annual ceremony held at the beginning of each year. The Samjeong Sword presentation ceremony, originally scheduled for early this year and traditionally hosted by the President, was instead held by the Defense Minister as a follow-up measure in response to the emergent martial law.

The Defense Ministry explained, "Due to the President's overseas travel schedule, the President was unable to present the Samjeong Sword, resulting in a prolonged delay for eligible officers. Considering the honor of the promoted generals and the overall morale of the military, there was broad agreement that the swords should not be delayed any further, and therefore the Defense Minister presented them on behalf of the President for this year only."

By Byeong-No, Yun