[Defense Column] A Steadfast Leader Is Needed for "K-Defense"

Noise Continues After Establishment of DAPA
Rumors Swirl About Replacing Commissioner Eom Dong-hwan
When Leadership Falters, the "K-Defense" Myth Wavers Too

In December 2001, two generals of the Army were arrested. These generals, who were serving in the Army Corps of Engineers and the Procurement Headquarters, were caught receiving cash bribes during the unfair selection process of a construction company worth 4.5 billion won. Two field-grade officers, one reserve major, and one civilian employee were also arrested.

As defense industry corruption persisted, the Roh Moo-hyun administration took decisive action. The Procurement Headquarters was abolished, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) was established as an independent external agency. The first commissioner was Kim Jeong-il, a former head of the Defense Procurement Headquarters at the Ministry of National Defense. He voluntarily resigned after allegations arose that he received an envelope containing several million won from a military classmate working at a defense company, just six months after his appointment. The second commissioner, Lee Seon-hee, was a former head of DAPA’s Contract Management Headquarters. The third commissioner, Yang Chi-gyu, who served during the Lee Myung-bak administration, previously held positions as head of the Baekdu Project Group at the Ministry of National Defense and system management director of the KHP Project Group at DAPA. The fourth commissioner, Byeon Mu-geun, was a former commander of the Navy Education Command at the Navy Headquarters.

The problem was that controversies did not cease even with commissioners from military backgrounds. One commissioner eliminated all overseas defense attach?s. This commissioner went on a business trip to visit Rolls-Royce, a European engine manufacturer. Rolls-Royce provided a luxury van as a VIP courtesy. However, because it was a van and not a sedan, the commissioner reportedly summoned the defense attach? and the Korean Rolls-Royce employee and scolded them, saying they were treating the commissioner like cargo. Important appointments were postponed, and eventually, the vehicle had to be changed. Upon returning to Korea, the commissioner proposed to the head of the Intelligence Headquarters to abolish the defense attach? positions and assign defense-related duties to military attach?s. The following year, the defense attach? system, which was responsible for defense exports, was abolished. This led to side effects: attach?s who had been gathering secret intelligence locally were now dragged to various defense-related events, exposing them.

Subsequently, commissioners from civilian backgrounds were recruited. The fifth commissioner, Jang Su-man, previously served as head of the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority and the Public Procurement Service, and later as vice minister of the Ministry of National Defense. However, problems persisted. In 2009, while serving as vice minister, he negotiated budget issues with the Blue House without reporting to the minister. Although the minister sent a letter of protest, rumors circulated within the Ministry of National Defense that the vice minister was "above the minister." Throughout his term, former Vice Minister Jang emphasized to reporters that DAPA should be placed under the Ministry of National Defense and that a "second vice minister system" should be introduced, citing lack of control as the reason.

However, after being appointed commissioner, he changed his stance. The commissioner stated that the previous misunderstandings were due to a lack of understanding and that it was proper for DAPA to remain an external agency. This was interpreted as a desire to avoid interference from the Ministry of National Defense after becoming commissioner. The troubles did not end there. Although he was regarded as "President Lee Myung-bak’s avatar" and a figure who would eradicate defense industry corruption, he was dishonorably forced to resign after being implicated in a food service corruption scandal during his tenure as head of the Public Procurement Service. Within the defense industry, complaints continued that the commissioner lacked the qualifications and leadership to lead the defense industry.

Speculation about replacing the current DAPA commissioner, Eom Dong-hwan, has also been ongoing. It is said that Commissioner Eom submitted his resignation and even took leave to run in next year’s general election. A successor general has also been mentioned. The successor is known to be a close aide of former Minister of National Defense Kim Gwan-jin, who is vice chairman of the Presidential Defense Innovation Committee and the inaugural chairman of the General Paik Sun-yup Foundation. Some say this successor speculation is a "self-proclaimed rumor."

This year marks the 50th anniversary since Korea began manufacturing weapons, and K-Defense’s orders have surpassed 50 trillion won so far. Record-breaking export figures are also expected. The DAPA commissioner is the leader who can drive "K-Defense," but leadership continues to be unstable. When leadership falters, the myth of "K-Defense" inevitably wavers as well.

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