Air Defense Unit Near Yongsan: "Reinforcement" VS "Unnecessary"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] There are concerns that if the presidential office is relocated to the Ministry of National Defense, additional military facilities such as air defense units will need to be deployed in the Yongsan and Namsan areas. This directly conflicts with the Presidential Transition Committee's opinion that additional air defense systems are necessary in Yongsan.

On the 22nd, Seo Wook, Minister of National Defense, who appeared for an urgent inquiry at the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, expressed the opinion that if the presidential office is moved to the Ministry of National Defense, additional military facilities such as air defense units will need to be deployed in the Yongsan and Namsan areas.

Regarding the opinion of Kim Byung-joo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, that additional air defense posts are needed in the Yongsan area, Minister Seo said, "I think a redeployment should be considered according to the (presidential) security and protection." On the criticism that the air defense system against drone (unmanned aerial vehicle) attacks around the Ministry of National Defense area is not as sufficient as that of the current Blue House, he expressed agreement, saying, "The area I am responsible for security and protection (the Blue House) and the Ministry of National Defense area differ (in air defense level)."

Until now, there have been repeated calls inside and outside the military that the current air defense system around the Blue House should also be relocated to the Ministry of National Defense building area before Yoon's presidential inauguration day (May 10). This is because the current Blue House benefits to some extent from the natural defense provided by Bugaksan Mountain against attacks from the north, whereas there are no such geographical features around the Ministry of National Defense building.

Kim Byung-joo, a Democratic Party member and former deputy commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, pointed out on a broadcast on the 18th that if the presidential office is moved to the Ministry of National Defense building, a protection system would be needed that includes installing air defense batteries on apartment rooftops in the Gangnam area of Seoul, which is within an 8 km radius.

However, the Presidential Transition Committee stated, "There will be no additional installation of air defense batteries in the surrounding area." The committee said, "Yongsan already has an air defense system in place to protect military facilities such as the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff," and added, "There will be no additional installation of air defense batteries on surrounding apartments due to the relocation to Yongsan."

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