Will Minister An Kyu-baek Actively Address Allegations Upon Return? [Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club]

Attention on Whether He Will Personally Address Desertion Allegations and Explain Integrated Admissions for Military Academies

Defense Minister An Gyu-baek has found himself in a difficult position. After accompanying President Lee Jaemyung on his NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit trip, An is scheduled to return to Korea on July 10. Attention is focused on whether he will directly address suspicions of desertion during his time as a conscripted soldier and the issue of integrated admissions for the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies.

Questions about Minister An's military service first emerged during his confirmation hearing last year. At that time, suspicions were raised as his service period was recorded as 22 months—about eight months longer than the standard 14 months at the time—suggesting possible desertion or confinement in a military detention center. He refuted these claims, stating, "There is absolutely no such issue," and explained that he was a "victim of a military administration error" that caused his service record to differ from reality. He clarified that he was investigated because his mother provided lunch to his unit, and the days spent during this investigation were excluded from his service. As a result, after his initial discharge, he served several additional days during vacation seven months later, which extended his total service period.

At the 24th Anniversary Ceremony of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong held last month at the Naval Second Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Defense Minister An Gyu-baek delivered a commemorative speech. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The issue resurfaced recently following a complaint filed by the Public Interest Reporting Center for a Clean Society (headed by Kim Youngsu). This organization reported An to the police, claiming that his statement during last July's National Assembly confirmation hearing—that he had not deserted during his conscripted service—constituted false testimony and thus violated the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly. The Yongsan Police Station in Seoul plans to summon Kim Youngsu, head of the National Defense Rights Research Institute, on July 16 to question him as the complainant regarding the allegations of perjury at the confirmation hearing.

Minister An must also announce the integrated admissions plan for the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies. On July 6, the Ministry of National Defense was scheduled to hold a briefing at its headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to announce the basic plan for establishing the National Armed Forces Academy. However, about an hour and a half before the briefing, the ministry notified the press that it would be postponed. While the delay was attributed to changes in Minister An's schedule, suspicions have been raised that the ministry had not reached a consensus. Both inside and outside the military, critics say that the Ministry of National Defense may be wavering due to opposition from military veterans who are against the merger of the academies.

The number of signatures for a National Assembly petition calling for Minister An's impeachment is rising rapidly. As of 9 a.m. on July 10, it had reached 308,159, far surpassing the requirement of 50,000 signatures within 30 days for referral to the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The petitioner previously urged in a statement titled "Petition for the Impeachment of Defense Minister An Gyu-baek" on June 18 that, "Since this is an issue that fundamentally changes the military counterintelligence system that has been maintained for 49 years, its impact on national security must be thoroughly examined."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.