Lee In-young "I feel sorry for young people and support them more because my son and I couldn't serve in the military"

Apology Over Son's Military Service Exemption Controversy

Lee In-young, the nominee for Minister of Unification, appeared at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 23rd and responded to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Lee In-young, the nominee for Minister of Unification, said on the 23rd, "I feel sorry for the (active duty) young people because my son and I could not serve in the military, and I support them even more," regarding the controversy over his son's military service.

On the same day, Lee made this statement while explaining the controversy surrounding his son’s military service at the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.

The opposition party continued to press Lee over his son's military exemption, and Lee immediately rebutted, showing signs of emotional tension.

Members of the United Future Party demanded that all medical records supporting the military exemption be submitted, but Lee countered, saying, "It is unreasonable to demand the submission of all personal medical records."

Lee’s son was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis during a physical examination in April 2014 and was classified as Grade 5 wartime labor service (exempt) by the Military Manpower Administration, which exempts him from military service. The same result was confirmed in a re-examination in 2016.

Some raised questions about the appropriateness of the military exemption process, citing photos on social media showing Lee’s son riding a go-kart or DJing while standing for long periods shortly after receiving the exemption.

Lee explained the process of his son’s military exemption, saying, "In January 2014, he had a pneumothorax and underwent related surgery, but he continued to complain of back pain and received treatment at a neurosurgery clinic. During that process, ankylosing spondylitis, which is a reason for exemption, was discovered."

Earlier, Lee emphasized sincerity by revealing a handwritten note by his son on March 17, 2016, when he submitted a request to the Military Manpower Administration to change his military service status, stating, "I hope to serve active duty, but if not possible, at least social service."

Meanwhile, Lee himself was exempted from military service in November 1988 due to imprisonment. He participated in the democratization movement and was sentenced in June 1988 to one year and six months in prison with a three-year probation and a two-year suspension of qualifications for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the National Security Act, but was granted a special pardon in December of the same year.

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