Minister of Defense Ahn Ku-bak
[Yonhap News Agency file photo]
As of the 24th, over 140,000 people have participated in a parliamentary petition calling for the impeachment of Minister of Defense Ahn Ku-bak.
According to the National Petition website, as of today, this petition initiated on the 18th has garnered participation from 145,572 individuals.
The petition states that due to insufficient measures regarding the disbandment of the Counterintelligence Command and its core functions, the dispersion of key functions, and the death incident during reserve training, public concern over national security and soldier safety is growing. It requests a thorough investigation by the National Assembly into Minister Ahn's performance in office and calls for his impeachment.
In this context, Jang Jeom-sik, the floor leader of the People Power Party, posted on Facebook today saying, "The Ministry of Defense under Minister Ahn has been forcefully pushing forward with actions that shake the foundation of national defense, such as disbanding the military counterintelligence service, merging and relocating naval, army, and air force academies to local areas, and outsourcing rear-area security to civilians without sufficient verification or discussion. This is happening amid concerns over weakening the ROK-US alliance, and there have been revelations of differing opinions between our Ministry of Defense and UN Command on various issues."
He also criticized that "the investigation into the death incident during reserve training in Pocheon last month, which sparked outrage among many young people, has been left unresolved under the complete indifference of the minister and military leadership. There was even a shocking case where a program introducing China's 'anti-American aid' logic regarding the Korean War appeared at the Korean War Memorial Museum."
He further stated, "President Lee must not take lightly this petition that has surpassed 100,000 signatures in just five days. We strongly urge him to replace Minister Ahn and comprehensively reform national defense and security policies to alleviate security concerns."
Choi Soo-jin, the chief spokesperson of the party, also commented in a statement: "The flurry of petitions calling for the impeachment of Minister Ahn is not just a personnel failure but a clear 'personnel disaster' born from President Lee's distorted view on national security. We demand that President Lee immediately replace Minister Ahn and comprehensively reform the foreign affairs and defense line."
In response to the People Power Party's attacks, the Democratic Party countered with "Stop hindering the efforts of the Lee Jae-myung administration to normalize national security."
Lee Ju-hee, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a written briefing today: "Every claim is filled with lies and distortions. Please do not hinder the reform efforts of the Lee Jae-myung administration aimed at restoring national security that was destroyed by Yoon Suk-yeol and the People Power Party."
She added, "Even the People Power Party shamelessly denounces as 'outsourcing national security' a policy proposed by their own party member just because it is claimed by the Lee Jae-myung administration. The Democratic Party will steadfastly push forward with reform to completely eradicate political interference in the military and cultivate a strong army suited for the AI era."
hug@yna.co.kr
