Retired Lt. Gen. Chae Myung-shin, who served as the first commander of South Korean forces during the Vietnam War (1954-1975), died of a chronic disease Monday, his family said. He was 87.
Chae led the South Korean forces in Vietnam from 1965 to 1969, after fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. He graduated from the U.S. Army Infantry School in 1953.
After being discharged in 1972 during the Park Chung-hee administration, Chae worked as ambassador to Sweden, Greece and Brazil.
Chae is survived by his wife, one son and two daughters.
Funerals will be held on Thursday. For more information, call 02-3010-2631.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com