[Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club] What About the Defense Daily Cartoon Containing an Aide's Improper Solicitation?

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Defense Daily, published by the Defense Ministry’s Defense Public Relations Office, attracted attention on the 16th by addressing the issue of improper requests by a lawmaker’s aide in a comic strip. Amid growing controversy over allegations of preferential military treatment for the son of Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae, the Defense Ministry outwardly states that there is "no regulatory problem" regarding the minister’s son, but there are speculations that it may actually recognize the matter as an improper request.

According to the Defense Daily website on the 17th, the newspaper published a comic titled "Just Take It. My Request!" on the previous day in its serialized webtoon corner called "Defense Integrity Toon," focusing on the theme of a lawmaker’s aide making a request.

The comic begins with a lawmaker’s aide calling a military official to request changing the position of a private first class serving in an Army reconnaissance battalion to an administrative soldier. The comic depicts that the aide’s request was "approved" after passing through the division commander, regiment commander, and battalion commander. However, there was no mention of the lawmaker, presumed to be the private’s father, who was behind the request. At the bottom of the comic, an explanation of regulations follows, stating that the lawmaker’s aide, military official, division commander, and regiment commander are subject to a "fine of up to 30 million won," while the battalion commander faces "up to 2 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million won."

The webtoon is notable for depicting the currently controversial "aide’s request call" and "position assignment." Choi, who was an aide to Minister Chu, made a call in June 2017 to the unit of Minister Chu’s son, Seo, regarding his failure to return from leave. During the prosecution investigation, Choi reportedly stated, "I did make the call, but there was no illegal request; it was just an inquiry about the leave."

The newspaper clarified that "the characters and departments appearing in this content are not related to actual persons or entities," but some suggest that it evokes the "leave privilege" case involving Minister Chu Mi-ae’s son, in which an aide allegedly called military personnel. In response, a Defense Ministry official explained, "This material was produced for soldier education purposes and is not related to any specific incident."

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