Background
Lee was born in Manchuria in 1914 to two Korean refugees.
李權武
army general appointed Chief of Staff
Lee was born in Manchuria in 1914 to two Korean refugees.
In 1948, Lee attended a military officer school in the Soviet Union.
He commanded a division, and later a corps, on the front line of the conflict and received North of Korea"s two highest military honours, the and the Order of the National Flag, First Class. He joined the Chinese Communist Eighth Route Army, fighting both the Chinese Nationalists and the Imperial Japanese Army. Upon returning to North of Korea, he was appointed chief of staff of the Korean People"s Army (KPA).
Prior to the, Lee was recalled on personal order of the North Korean Premier Kim Il-sung.
Kim personally gave Lee command of the newly formed 4th Division of the Korean People"s Army Ground Force. As such he was made a Sojang, or Major General, in the Korean military.
On June 22, 1950, Lee issued his operational order to the NK 4th Division, stating it, along with the NK 1st Division and NK 3rd Division would attack Seoul before moving further down the Uijongbu corridor. Preparations for this order were completed by midnight of June 23.
Lee subsequently led his division to the capture of Seoul in the First Battle of Seoul.
He was awarded his decorations for this action. After Seoul, Lee was leading his division south when it encountered forces of Task Force Smith at Osan, defeating the United States Army in its first engagement in of Korea, the Battle of Osan on July 5. Lee"s division went on to fight the United States forces back further at the Battle of Pyongtaek, Battle of Chonan, and Battle of Chochiwon.
At the Battle of Taejon from July 12–20, Lee"s division was pivotal in routing and defeating the United States 24th Infantry Division, a feat for which it was upgraded to the status of a guards unit
Immediately thereafter, Lee"s division advanced to the Pusan Perimeter, where the United Nations had established defensive positions around the port city of Pusan. Lee"s division confronted the United States 24th Infantry Division along the Naktong River from August 5–19, the First Battle of Naktong Bulge.
His division, originally numbering 7,000, was reduced to 3,500 in this fight. lieutenant was defeated and forced back across the river to rebuild.
After the defeat of the North Korean forces at the Pusan Perimeter, Lee was promoted to Lieutenant General and relieved Kim Ung as the commander of the NK I Corps.
Under his command, the NK I Corps participated in the Chinese Third, Fourth and Fifth Phase Offensive in 1951. After the war, Lee resumed his position as the chief of staff of the KPA. He disappeared from public life soon after his removal.
