"Order to Vacate Official Residence for Marine Corps Commander"... Ministry of National Defense Expresses "Regret" Over Opposition Party's Claim

Assemblyman Kim Byung-joo Claims "Evicted Five Days After Notification" at National Audit

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The Ministry of National Defense expressed regret over opposition party lawmakers' claims made during the National Assembly National Defense Committee audit that "the Marine Corps Commandant moved out just five days after being notified to vacate the official residence."

The Ministry of National Defense stated on the 21st, "There was misinformation regarding the Marine Corps Commandant's move of the official residence during the Navy Headquarters audit," adding, "The Marine Corps Commandant moved first due to personal reasons and prior coordination while conducting practical discussions with the Security Office regarding the use of the official residence."

They emphasized, "The move date of the Marine Corps Commandant was not March 25 but April 22," and expressed regret over the unilateral and inaccurate claims that the Commandant was forcibly evicted.

Earlier that morning at the audit held at Gyeryongdae in Chungnam, Kim Byung-joo, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, claimed, "The Marine Corps Commandant was living in the official residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul until March, but the former Marine Corps Commandant, who was part of the (Yoon Seok-yeol) presidential campaign, notified him to vacate the residence." He continued, "At that time, it was requested to formally notify the Presidential Transition Committee, but even that did not go through the Ministry of National Defense, and the family was forced out within five days," adding, "This is a typical breach of national discipline and should be audited by the Board of Audit and Inspection."

Marine Corps Commandant Kim Tae-sung responded to such inquiries by saying, "I moved a little earlier due to personal reasons."

Meanwhile, the official residence previously used by the Marine Corps Commandant is currently occupied by the head of the Security Office.

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