Here is an interesting read about Stephen Bradner the former advisor to 14 different USFK commanders. He retired from his position in 2013 and unfortunately passed away last month at age 86:
The late Stephen Bradner, with his wife Shin-ja. Photo: Courtesy Andrew Bradner
Bradner returned to the US in 1961 to earn a Harvard master’s degree in Asian Studies. He returned to Korea in 1964 to begin a career of nearly 50 years as a civilian employee of the US government. Starting as an intelligence analyst for the US Army, Bradner worked his way up until in 1973 he became deputy special advisor to the US Army 4-star general in command of both UN Command and US Forces in Korea.
As Michael Breen, author of “The New Koreans” later recalled, “When I first met Steve back around 1986, I showed his business card to a politician friend who was running [then-opposition leader] Kim Dae-jung’s camp. He got quite excited, and put on a whispered voice, although there was no need to, and said, ‘He is the most powerful man in Korea!’” [Asia Times]
