Democratic Party's 11th Recruit Professor Choi Gi-il: "We Will Not Tolerate Defense Industry Corruption"

▲ Professor Choi Ki-il

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The Democratic Party of Korea has recruited defense industry expert Choi Ki-il, an adjunct professor at Konkuk University Graduate School of Industry (age 38), as its eleventh new member.

The Democratic Party's Talent Recruitment Committee held an induction ceremony at the National Assembly on the morning of the 21st and announced the recruitment of Professor Choi. The committee explained the reason for recruitment as "a defense industry expert who has researched measures to strengthen expertise in the defense industry sector and eradicate defense industry corruption."

They also added, "He is regarded as a uniquely outstanding expert in the domestic defense industry field," and "This is the first time a defense industry expert has been recruited into the political arena."

Professor Choi was born in 1981 in Cheonan, Chungnam Province. He graduated from ▲ Soongsil University with a degree in Accounting (2004) ▲ Kyung Hee University with a Master's in Business Administration (2008) ▲ Konkuk University with a Ph.D. in Defense Business Studies (2016).

Commissioned as a 43rd class officer, Professor Choi was selected in 2011 for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration's acquisition specialist position, serving in the International Parts Contract Team, Cost Accounting Verification Team, and Cost Management Team. In 2016, he was appointed professor in the Department of Defense Management at the Graduate School of Defense Management, Korea National Defense University; in 2018, professor in the Department of Defense Industry at Konkuk University Graduate School of Industry; and in 2018, adjunct professor at Midwest University in the United States.

He has been recognized for his in-depth research in the defense industry field, receiving awards such as the 41st National Productivity Award from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the 6th Korea Defense Industry Association's Distinguished Defense Industry Person Award, and the Excellent Defense Industry Paper Awards in 2014, 2016, and 2018 hosted by the Korea Defense Industry Promotion Association.

At the induction ceremony, Professor Choi declared, "I will no longer tolerate defense industry corruption in the Republic of Korea." He continued, "To cultivate a global elite military force, the defense acquisition system must gain the trust of the people," emphasizing, "I will establish a transparent defense acquisition system through laws and regulations."

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