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."
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."
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