Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop's Resignation... Why Does the Opposition Criticize It as "Tail Cutting"?

Security Line Sudden Overhaul... Controversy Over Downplaying the Impact of the Chae Sang-byeong Incident
Hong Joon-pyo "Defense Minister Should Not Be Appointed from Political Parties"

As the opposition party pushes for the impeachment of Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop, the situation is becoming complicated as Minister Lee preemptively offered his resignation. The Democratic Party views the resignation as a mere 'simple replacement' rather than a 'dismissal' holding Minister Lee accountable for the death of Corporal Chae in the Marine Corps, and considers it an inadequate solution.

The Democratic Party has decided to further discuss the proposal to impeach the Defense Minister at a party meeting scheduled for the 14th. On the 12th, after an emergency party meeting, Democratic Party spokesperson Kim Han-gyu told reporters regarding Minister Lee's resignation, "We believe that a simple replacement through his resignation, rather than a dismissal, is insufficient."

Spokesperson Kim stated, "It is important to uncover the truth about the alleged external pressure on the investigation of Corporal Chae's case, and we think that an apology and accountability from those responsible, including the Defense Minister, are necessary," but added, "Impeachment is not necessarily the procedure we must pursue."

A cabinet reshuffle, including the Defense Minister, is expected to take place within this week. Although there were predictions that the cabinet would be announced on the 12th, the core agenda of the Cabinet meeting that day was President Yoon Seok-yeol's report on the outcomes of his visits to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Group of Twenty (G20) summits.

If President Yoon accepts Minister Lee's resignation, impeachment will effectively become impossible. This is why suspicions continue that the personnel changes related to Corporal Chae's case are a form of scapegoating. Along with discussions about Minister Lee's successor, there are also forecasts that the presidential office's defense advisory line, including Deputy Director of National Security Im Jong-deuk and Defense Secretary Im Ki-hoon, will be abruptly replaced.

Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop is seated during the government questioning session on foreign affairs, unification, and security held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 6th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Justice Party lawmaker Park Won-seok appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" on the 12th and said, "Since rumors about the successor to the Defense Minister have been circulating for a week, the opposition's mention of impeachment is not the reason for the replacement, but it cannot be seen as unrelated to Corporal Chae's case." He added, "It can be seen as a renewal of the security line, but on the other hand, it appears to be a dismissal-type reshuffle aimed at downplaying the fallout from the external pressure on the Marine Corps investigation or mishandling of the case."

Former Justice Party lawmaker Kim Jong-dae also saw the death of Corporal Chae as the background for the sudden replacement of the security line. On KBS's "Bae Jong-chan's Current Affairs Headquarters," he explained, "First, allegations of presidential office interference in Corporal Chae's death case kept emerging, but the failure to quell these early on led to amplified suspicions and even spread to presidential involvement. As a result, it seems that responsibility is being demanded, and all related personnel are being replaced from their current positions."

Kim added, "Secondly, if these individuals remain in their posts, there are talks of special prosecutors and parliamentary investigations, and they would all have to appear as witnesses. Ultimately, cleaning this up now will help block these suspicions and also better defend against parliamentary attacks," he elaborated.

There were also criticisms that appointing a political party-affiliated individual as Defense Minister is inappropriate. Shin Won-sik, a member of the People Power Party, is strongly mentioned as a successor, but appointing someone affiliated with a political party could invite attacks from the opposition party on grounds of compromising political neutrality.

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo said on Facebook, "One of the personnel principles upheld until the end of the term during President MB (Lee Myung-bak)'s administration was never to appoint political party members as Defense or Justice Ministers." He added, "If political party members occupy these two positions, which require a high degree of political neutrality, they risk being attacked by opposition parties for compromising that neutrality."

Mayor Hong argued, "During the Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in administrations, this principle was not upheld, and the military and prosecution often became mouthpieces for the regime, damaging political neutrality. At least during MB's administration, despite the uproar over the Park Yeon-cha investigation, such controversies were relatively fewer."

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