[2026 Parliamentary Audit] Controversy Over Commander Brunson's Remarks Continues at Audit Hearing

Army Chief of Staff Kim Gyuha: "I Cannot Agree"
The U.S. Reportedly Responded, "We Understand the Concerns"

The controversy over U.S. Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson’s remark that “South Korea begins at the fence line south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)” continued during the National Assembly’s audit of the Army. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha said, “I cannot agree,” and lawmakers also voiced concern.

Speaking at the National Assembly’s audit of the Army by the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee at Army Headquarters in Gyeryongdae that day, Kim said, “The Ministry of National Defense and the Army have a firm position on territorial sovereignty, but we need to consider Commander Brunson’s remarks in their full context and take his position into account.”

Yonhap News Agency

Earlier, at a seminar in Washington, D.C., on October 14, Commander Brunson said, “From the United Nations Command’s perspective, South Korea begins at the fence line south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).” His remarks sparked controversy over whether the commander of U.S. Forces Korea had disregarded the territorial sovereignty of the Republic of Korea.

The South Korean government reportedly conveyed its concerns to the U.S. over Commander Brunson’s recent remarks and received a response expressing understanding. The government has reportedly shared its views with the U.S. through various channels regarding Commander Brunson’s recent public remarks in general, and the U.S. said it was fully aware of and understood those concerns.

Ruling-party lawmakers criticized the remarks, saying they disregarded the territorial sovereignty of the Republic of Korea. A Ministry of National Defense official dismissed them as “the personal views of the United Nations commander” and stressed that “the ministry’s position on the territorial sovereignty of the Republic of Korea is firm.”

At the same seminar, Commander Brunson also suggested that the criteria for determining whether the conditions for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) had been met could change depending on shifts in the security situation. He said at the time, “Conditions have changed, and because we have changed our plans, there are new standards that we have to meet.” The South Korean government, which believes that continued changes to the criteria could ultimately make the transfer of OPCON increasingly remote, also conveyed its concerns about this remark to the U.S. Recent developments appear to point to friction between Commander Brunson and the South Korean government over an early transfer of OPCON, the United Nations Command’s management of the armistice, and South Korea’s sovereignty.

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