Joint Chiefs Chair Nominee Played Golf During N. Korea Missile Launch...Opposition Demands "Withdrawal of Nomination"

Nominee Kim Myeong-su Faces Triple Controversy Over Golf, Stocks, and School Violence
Ruling Party Points Out 'Inappropriate Conduct' but Defends Nominee
Opposition Says "This Is a Personnel Disaster... Yoon Must Withdraw Nomination"

At the parliamentary confirmation hearing for Kim Myung-soo, the nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held on the 15th, both ruling and opposition parties sharply criticized Kim for playing golf and trading stocks during North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) provocations. The Democratic Party of Korea even raised suspicions about 'school violence involving his child' and called for the withdrawal of his nomination.

Han Ki-ho, a member of the National Defense Committee from the People Power Party, said at the hearing, "Regarding the golf issue, I also served in the military, but I think it was excessive," adding, "The Chairman is the highest-ranking officer in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and must be more righteous than anyone else and maintain proper conduct and speech." He also mentioned the child’s school violence issue, saying, "It is problematic that despite talking with his child, he claims not to remember the school violence incident."

Kim Myung-soo, the nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is responding to questions from lawmakers at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 15th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, the Democratic Party pointed out Kim’s playing golf and trading stocks during and immediately after North Korea’s missile provocations, and particularly raised suspicions that his daughter was involved in a school violence incident as a middle school student 11 years ago.

The Democratic Party labeled Kim’s nomination as a 'personnel disaster' and continued strong criticism. Representative Yoon Hoo-duk said, "On the day North Korea launched missile provocations, Kim traded stocks dozens of times during working hours, and the day after the missile provocation, he went to a golf course," adding, "Trading stocks on a smartphone in the office during work hours is subject to severe disciplinary action."

Representative Jung Sung-ho said, "Regarding virtual asset trading by lawmakers, the ruling party leader said, 'If a regular public official trades virtual assets during working hours, it would warrant severe disciplinary action,'" and criticized, "Trading stocks during work is not just inappropriate; he should express regret to the public." Representative Seol Hoon added, "Missiles are flying, yet he is investing in stocks and playing golf without any concern."

Ruling party lawmakers also reprimanded Kim. Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "Even if he was not in charge of managing the missile launch situation, as a senior military officer, his conduct during a national crisis was inappropriate." Representative Sung Il-jong also said, "There are parts that do not emotionally align with the public’s expectations," and added, "He should clearly explain whether the day he played golf on a weekday was a day off."

However, Representative Lee Heon-seung showed some support for Kim, defending his golf schedule and the child’s school violence controversy. Lee said, "The reason the military built golf courses was for physical training, and I think exercising on a combat rest day or holiday is somewhat different (not a problem)," adding, "(Regarding the school violence incident) it might have happened because he often had trap duty and did not have many opportunities to be with his children."

Kim expressed regret over the 'child school violence' controversy, saying, "I deeply apologize to the students and parents involved." Regarding the allegations of trading stocks during work hours, he also said, "I apologize and will focus solely on my duties going forward."

"This is a personnel disaster"... Opposition urges withdrawal of nomination

Kwon Chil-seung, Chief Spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea Photo by Yonhap News

The Democratic Party increased pressure outside the hearing room by calling for the withdrawal of the nomination. Kwon Chil-seung, the Democratic Party’s chief spokesperson, said in a written briefing, "President Yoon Suk-yeol should immediately withdraw Kim’s nomination unless he intends to undermine the military’s morale and national defense posture." Kwon criticized Kim’s golf schedule and stock trading in sequence, saying, "This is why he was reprimanded for negligence in command and supervision as the commander of the 1st Fleet during the 2019 Samcheok Port fishing boat defection incident."

Earlier, Jang Kyung-tae, a Supreme Council member, directly addressed Kim’s child school violence issue at a Supreme Council meeting held in Daejeon. Jang said, "Kim’s child was one of six perpetrators involved in a group assault and received the lightest level of punishment." He also mentioned lawyer Jung Soon-shin, Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman Lee Dong-gwan, and former Presidential Office Protocol Secretary Kim Seung-hee, who were previously involved in school violence controversies, saying, "I cannot help but point out where the personnel screening system has gone. At this level, it is not verification but rather a checkpoint inspection."

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