Yu Byung-hyun

Lew Byong-hion (; 18 October 1924 – 21 May 2020) was a South Korean general and diplomat. He served in the Republic of Korea Army from 1948 to 1981, after which he served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 1986. Some sources also give his name as Lew Byong-hyon, Lew Byong-hyun, Lew Byung-hyun, or Yu Byung-hyun.

Biography Lew was born on 18 October 1924 in Cheongwon County, Chūseihoku-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan (now in South Korea).

Military career Lew graduated from the 7th class of the Korea Military Academy in 1948. He was promoted to brigadier-general in 1961.

Lew continued in his military posts as well; from September 1966 to September 1967, he was Commander of the "Tiger" Division in Vietnam. After his return from Vietnam, Lew became the Director of Planning and Operations under the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Lew continued his rise through the ranks, finally being promoted to daejang in 1977. In December 1979, Lew additionally became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He held the position of Chairman until his retirement from the military in 1981. Among other duties there, he continued to keep a close eye on Kim Dae-jung, who had gone into exile in the United States in 1982 after his prison sentence was suspended. He remained in Washington D.C. until 1985, thereafter becoming the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' ambassador-at-large until 1986.

Personal life He was married to Yang Jeong-hui , with whom he had four sons.