The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol'

  • 3

    Han Suk-kyu on return of 'Dr. Romantic' with Season 3

  • 5

    Genesis launches 2023 G90 sedan

  • 7

    Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate

  • 9

    N. Korea tests 'underwater nuclear attack drone,' cruise missiles for nuclear warhead: KCNA

  • 11

    Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week

  • 13

    What's next for Do Kwon?

  • 15

    Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president

  • 17

    Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek

  • 19

    Crypto founder Do Kwon is indicted in US, following Montenegro arrest

  • 2

    Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape

  • 4

    Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour

  • 6

    Kyochon heralds 30,000 won fried chicken era

  • 8

    North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon

  • 10

    Hybe to sell SM shares to Kakao following failed takeover bid

  • 12

    Kakao Entertainment, Colombia Record team up for IVE's North American debut

  • 14

    Do Kwon, Korea's crypto 'genius' turned disgraced fugitive

  • 16

    BTS' Jimin releases solo album

  • 18

    Montenegro charges crypto fugitive Do Kwon with forgery

  • 20

    More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sun, March 26, 2023 | 15:33
Defense
$130 mil. wasted on buying 'obsolete' US choppers
Posted : 2017-09-19 17:04
Updated : 2017-09-20 00:32
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Jun Ji-hye

South Korea wasted 150 billion won ($130 million) buying aging Chinook helicopters from the United States under the Park Geun-hye government, a ruling party lawmaker claimed Tuesday.

The helicopters have not been operating properly since their March 2014 delivery.

Rep. Rhee Cheol-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea said then-Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, who later became Park's national security adviser, played a leading role in the decision to buy the obsolete choppers.

"I confirmed 14 Chinook helicopters that were delivered to Korea three years ago have become a headache for the military," Rhee said. "The United States sold the choppers, used by the U.S. Forces Korea for almost 50 years, to Korea while replacing them with new models."

The CH-47D helicopters, better known as the Chinook, were priced at 5.75 billion won each, and the total price of the purchase was about 150 billion won including associated equipment, parts and logistical support.

Rep. Rhee noted the military at the time rushed to buy the choppers, citing their lower price compared to that of new models as well as their utility in the event of a contingency. But the helicopters have not been operating properly for the past three years as the delivery of their navigation equipment has been delayed.

The lawmaker also said the Korean military canceled a plan to upgrade the choppers last month, citing the lack of feasibility in such a project. The decision reflected the results of a feasibility study by the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, which showed residual life of the old helicopters could not be guaranteed even if the project proceeds.

Rhee said the cancellation of the upgrade project mirrored the fact that the decision to buy the choppers was wrong from the beginning.

In addition, the United States notified Korea in 2015 of its decision to discontinue sale of some parts of the Chinook beginning September 2018, which will make it hard to secure relevant parts in case of the choppers break down.

"Then-Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin was behind this hasty decision to buy the used helicopters," Rep. Rhee said, adding Kim made a verbal instruction to review the purchase details in 2012 only two days after the U.S. suggested it.

The lawmaker said he will concentrate on the issue during the National Assembly inspection of the Ministry of National Defense scheduled for next month.

Regarding the issue, Defense Acquisition Program Administration spokesman Kim Si-cheol said the agency at the time pushed for the purchase in accordance with due procedures.

"The contract was signed after the consideration of economic feasibility and effectiveness of the helicopters," he said. "The decision to buy them was made after completing advanced research and a feasibility review."



Emailjjh@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape
2Genesis launches 2023 G90 sedan Genesis launches 2023 G90 sedan
3Kyochon heralds 30,000 won fried chicken era Kyochon heralds 30,000 won fried chicken era
4Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate
5North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon
6Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week
7What's next for Do Kwon? What's next for Do Kwon?
8Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president
9Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek
10More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol' Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol'
2Han Suk-kyu on return of 'Dr. Romantic' with Season 3 Han Suk-kyu on return of 'Dr. Romantic' with Season 3
3Yoo Yeon-seok threatens to sue people spreading accusations about him Yoo Yeon-seok threatens to sue people spreading accusations about him
4Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour
5Lee Som, Ahn Jae-hong to play married couple in Tving's new series Lee Som, Ahn Jae-hong to play married couple in Tving's new series
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group