SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul faces grilling from lawmakers Wednesday over contentious issues ranging from the proposed merger of South Korea's military academies to U.S. calls for Seoul to contribute to security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Even before facing lawmakers, Kang set out firm positions on several key issues, backing the Lee Jae Myung administration's push to integrate the Army, Navy and Air Force academies.
“I believe integrated education is necessary,” Kang, a retired four-star Army general and Korea Military Academy graduate, said in written responses submitted ahead of the hearing.
The government has proposed establishing a four-year Armed Forces Academy at the military complex in Daejeon. Kang said there are areas of military education that the three services should conduct together, while pledging to hear views from cadets, applicants, parents and others before details are finalized.
The hearing comes as Seoul weighs how to respond to U.S. calls for contributions to security in the Strait of Hormuz.
A government assessment team recently returned from the United Arab Emirates after examining operating conditions, military facilities and logistical support near the strategic waterway. The government has said no deployment decision has been made, while the National Security Council is expected to review possible options Thursday.
Kang has so far taken a cautious stance, saying the issue should be approached from the perspective of protecting South Korean citizens and safeguarding national interests. Possible contributions under consideration have included P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, explosive ordnance disposal personnel and unmanned mine-detection and removal systems.
Another focus will be the transfer of wartime operational control, or OPCON, from the U.S.-led Combined Forces Command to South Korea.
Kang has said he agrees with the assessment that South Korea could defend itself even if OPCON were transferred immediately, while stressing that mutual trust in the alliance must be maintained. He has pledged to pursue the transfer in a way that strengthens the South Korea-U.S. alliance and their combined defense posture.
Lawmakers are also expected to question Kang over property-related allegations involving him and his family.
Opposition lawmakers have alleged that Kang registered his address at a house in Seoul's Cheonwang-dong while serving at a military unit in Gangwon Province and later qualified for a special apartment allocation available to residents displaced by redevelopment.
Kang subsequently acquired an apartment in Seoul's Seocho District through the program. He has denied wrongdoing, saying the Cheonwang-dong property was a family home he legally received from his parents and that his military postings led to differences between his actual residence and registered address.
Separate questions surround Kang's son, who bought a 700 million won ($512,000) commercial property in Bundang's Yangji Village in June.
The property was initially omitted from Kang's disclosure submitted for the confirmation process. Kang's side said the omission was an error and later submitted corrected documents.
His son financed the purchase largely through loans from relatives, while Kang has said neither he nor his wife was involved in selecting or financing the property.
AJP Takeaways
- South Korean Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul faced scrutiny over a potential Strait of Hormuz deployment, wartime operational control and military academy reform.
- Opposition lawmakers also raised property allegations involving special housing allocation and a 700 million won commercial property purchased by Kang's son.
- Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties urged Kang to address the security and ethics controversies while maintaining close communication with the National Assembly.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
