Hwang Ki-chul (Korean: 황기철; Hanja: 黃基鐵; born 2 September 1956) is a South Korean ex Navy chief served as the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs from 2020 to 2022.^[1]

Hwang previously served as deputy chief of navy during Lee Myung-bak administration from 2011 to 2012 and its chief during the following Park Geun-hye administration from 2013 to 2015. He also served as the head of his alma mater from 2012 to 2013.^[2]

On 14 August 2021, Hwang will visit Kazakhstan as president's special envoy to retrieve body of Hong Beom-do, the general commander of Korean independence army against Japanese rule over Korea.^[3]

He first entered politics in 2017. He joined then-candidate Moon Jae-in's presidential campaign in 2017.^[4] In the 2020 general election, he ran for Jinhae constituency which is his hometown and where major Navy facilities and his alma mater reside.

Hwang is a Korea Naval Academy graduate. He holds three degrees - a bachelor in French language and literature from Korea University, a master's in history from University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne and an MBA from Kyung Hee University. He also completed a doctorate programme in political science at Hannam University.^[5]

Promotions

Insignia	Rank	Year
	Admiral	2013
	Vice admiral	2010
	Rear admiral Upper Half	2006
	Rear Admiral Lower Half	2001
	Ensign	1978

• Order of National Security Merit by the government of South Korea (2017)
• Order of National Security Merit by the government of South Korea (2008)