Shin Hyun-joon (general)

General Shin was born on October 23, 1915, in Geumneung, North Gyeongsang Province, Korea, during the colonial rule of the Empire of Japan over Eastern Asia, which encompassed Korea and China. ^[4] His family relocated to Manchuria, a province of China, in 1919 ^[4]. Immersed in Chinese culture and educated in Japanese, he attained fluency in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.

After graduating from Fengtian Military School in 1937, Shin joined the Manchukuo Imperial Army as an officer ^[2], marking the beginning of his military career. He served as an instructor in Japanese-administered military schools and in various military units until 1945, when the end of World War II brought a close to 35 years of Japanese colonial rule.

At the end of World War II in 1945, Korea was divided into two occupational zones — the United States occupying the South and the Soviet Union occupying the North. In 1946, Shin joined the South Korean Coast Guard, the predecessor to the Republic of Korea Navy.^[2] Following the establishment of the Republic of Korea in August 1948, the Yeosu Rebellion occurred, and Shin was assigned to suppress the uprising. In its aftermath, he recommended the formation of a dedicated unit capable of conducting amphibious landing operations within the Navy ^[2] — the first step toward the creation of the Korean Marine Corps.^[4]

On February 1, 1949, Shin was appointed Commandant of the Marine Corps by Admiral Son Won-il, Chief of Naval Operations.^[2] The Republic of Korea Marine Corps was formally established on April 15, 1949.^{[2] [5]} Shin commanded the Korean Marines throughout the Korean War (1950–1953).

In September 1950, Shin led the Korean Marines during the Inchon Landing under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, an operation that resulted in the liberation of the South Korean capital, Seoul. In recognition of his role, the U.S. government awarded him the Silver Star medal.^[6]

The ROK Marine Corps earned a reputation for rigorous training and ferocity in combat during the Korean War ^[2] and beyond, giving rise to widely used epithets such as "Ghost-Catching Marines", "Invincible Marines"^[7], and "Myth-Making Marines", which remain in use today.^[2]

Following his tenure as Commandant, Shin remained in uniform and organized and led the newly established 1st ROK Marine Brigade and the Marine Education Base.^[2] He subsequently served as an advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Minister of National Defense. He also pursued further education during this period, including a period of study in the United States.^[4]

Shin received seven military awards and decorations from the South Korean government during and after the Korean War.

President Park Chung-hee appointed Shin as South Korea's first Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, with additional accreditation to Liberia. He subsequently served as Secretary General of the World Anti-Communist League.

A landmark in Ambassador Shin's diplomatic career was his appointment as the first resident Ambassador to the Holy See. He was notably accredited during the pontificates of three popes: Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul I, and Pope John Paul II.^[7]

After completing 14 years as an ambassador, Shin and his wife, Hae-ryong, traveled and spent extended periods of time with their children and grandchildren.

Revered as the “Father of the Marine Corps,”^[2] Shin’s frequent visits to Korea were marked by honor guards and gathering of living commandants. In 1999, Shin was presented with a bust in recognition of his leadership during the pivotal moments in Korean history as the first Commandant and the “Father of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps”. This bust of General Shin, is located at the ROKMC Headquarters in South Korea. On the Corps’ 55th Anniversary in 2004, Shin initiated a scholarship for the Marines by donating his modest savings to fund it.

Following the passing of his wife, Hae-ryong, in 2001, Shin moved to Florida to live with his son. There he continued in his passion for learning by further expanding his knowledge in the English language. He passed away peacefully on October 14, 2007^[4] in Florida. His remains were flown to Korea where he received a full military salute at the Marine Corps HQ, followed by a formal procession to the burial site. He was buried with full military honors at the Daejeon National Cemetery in South Korea. Shin had two sons, Ong-mok Shin and Ong-in Shin and four daughters, Cecilia LaForet, Soon-mi Shin, Soon-wha Shin and Maria Abbott ^[8] , all of whom have settled in different parts of the world.