Jeong Kyeong-doo on Allegations of Favoritism Toward Chu Mi-ae's Son: "Some Administrative Actions Not Taken"

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo is attending the Task Force meeting on expanding housing supply held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 4th. Photo by Jang Jin-hyeong aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] It has been revealed that some administrative measures were insufficient regarding the allegations of preferential leave during military service of Seo Mo, son of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae.

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-du stated regarding the allegations of preferential leave during military service of Seo Mo, son of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, "Additional administrative measures should have been perfectly completed, but I understand some were not done."

Minister Jeong made this remark during the National Assembly Defense Committee session in response to Future United Party lawmaker Shin Won-sik's accusation that "Seo took 19 days of sick leave without a military doctor's diagnosis or a commander's order."

Minister Jeong said, "It is understood that sick leave and leave were processed according to procedures. I confirmed that it was recorded in the officer's interview log," but added, "As pointed out, some administrative processing was not done accurately."

He added, "Even if the commander gave verbal approval, a leave order should have been issued," and "Since such documents were not left on record, there could be administrative procedural errors." Shin, a retired Army Lieutenant General, said, "There was no basis for the 19 days of sick leave. The Ministry of National Defense also confirmed that there is no data at all," and proposed establishing a committee in the Defense Committee to investigate the unauthorized leave allegations.

Shin also claimed that Captain Kwon Mo, Seo's superior officer, testified at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutor's Office in June that he received a phone call from Minister Choo's aide requesting an extension of the leave.

In response, Democratic Party lawmaker Seol Hoon criticized, "Seo could have avoided military service, but he enlisted because of his mother's social status," and said, "If you understand the details, it really seems like a political attack."

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-joo, a former deputy commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, also defended, saying, "It is excessive to call it preferential treatment just because a sick soldier was granted sick leave," and "If procedures were wrong, the battalion commander and the relevant commanders should take responsibility."

When questions about Seo continued, Minister Jeong refrained from elaborating, saying, "Since the prosecution is conducting an investigation, the results will be revealed in detail."

Meanwhile, in response to Future United Party lawmaker Han Ki-ho's question, "Is it true that there is no channel to communicate with the North?" Minister Jeong said, "The UN Command communication line is still active."

Minister Jeong explained, "In the past, when there was no communication line, we communicated by broadcasting directly from the GP (Guard Post)," and added, "Even now, if there is something to communicate, we do it in that way. The basic channels can still be used as before."

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