[Hot Interview] Im Tae-hoon of the Opposition Proportional Representation 'Cutoff': "They Must Explain the Inhumane Reasons"

The conflict within the opposition democratic coalition led by the Democratic Party, which put forward a 'quasi satellite party,' is intensifying. Former Military Human Rights Center director Im Tae-hoon was recommended on the 10th as a proportional representation candidate for the civil society quota of the Democratic Coalition but was cut off by the Democratic Coalition's nomination management committee due to 'military service evasion.' The United Political Civic Council (Citizens' Council), the recommending body for the civil society quota, is refusing to re-nominate a new candidate in protest of the decision to cut off former director Im.

Former Military Human Rights Center Director Im Tae-hoon, who applied as a proportional representation candidate for the Democratic Union [Image source=Yonhap News]

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On the 14th, former director Im said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "I refused military service because I rejected discrimination and violence within the military and went to prison for it, didn't I?" He added, "Those who evade military service would not go to prison, but I went to prison on my own feet, and the international community even designated me as a conscientious objector." He was sentenced to one year and six months in prison in 2004 for violating the Military Service Act and was released the following year through a special pardon on Liberation Day. The Military Service Act stipulates that failure to enlist without justifiable reasons is punishable by imprisonment of up to three years, implying that he followed the law as stated.

Former director Im criticized, "Even the president did not serve in the military due to strabismus, so if that is the case, the president should quit politics first." He added, "Cutting off a national candidate elected through a democratic decision-making process for such anti-human rights reasons denies the entire (military service refusal) movement." He further explained, "I was recognized for my contribution to institutional stabilization, receiving a commendation from the Minister of Justice, and served as a review committee member for three years at the Military Manpower Administration, assessing conscientious objectors." He received a commendation from the Minister of Justice during the Moon Jae-in administration in 2018.

He emphasized that he decided to run for proportional representation to 'protect Colonel Park Jeong-hoon.' Colonel Park was indicted for insubordination after refusing to follow orders from then Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop during the investigation of a Marine's death accident in July last year. Former director Im claimed, "(The alleged accomplices in the Marine investigation cover-up) are wearing bulletproof vests and are on the verge of entering the National Assembly," adding, "They are acting as bodyguards against President Yoon Seok-yeol's investigation interference and are pointing blades at Colonel Park." He added, "I challenged myself with the thought that there should be at least one lawmaker protecting Colonel Park, and I am considering how to continue."

In January, Lim Tae-hoon, director of the Military Human Rights Center, disclosed the transcript at a press conference related to the 'Marine Corps personnel death incident' held at the Military Human Rights Center office in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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He expressed dissatisfaction with the Democratic Coalition's cut-off decision, saying it contradicts democratic decision-making. He said, "Through the national primary process, 23,172 people voted for me. Honestly, I did not expect such a large number of votes," adding, "I am the director of an organization with 10 full-time members, and it is difficult for people unfamiliar with this platform to come in and vote within two hours based solely on name recognition." He continued, "It was a consensus reached with agreement, so the fact that a political party made such a (cut-off) decision is incomprehensible," and stated, "They need to provide an official explanation."

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 14th, the Democratic Coalition announced after candidate interviews that "for one civil society recommended candidate who was deemed ineligible in the document screening, we requested a re-nomination from civil society by 10 a.m. on the 15th." The Citizens' Council held two meetings that night and unanimously decided to re-nominate former director Im, once again urging the withdrawal of the ineligibility decision against him.

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