By Kang Seung-woo
Hwang Ki-chul, former chief of naval operations, is likely to face an investigation over alleged bribery involving the nation's first homegrown salvage ship project.
The joint government investigation team has reportedly called on Hwang as a suspect for questioning over his alleged role in the case.
Hwang stepped down last month to take responsibility for corruption allegations involving the 3,500-ton Tongyeong, the Navy's state-of-the-art salvage ship.
In December, the Board of Audit and Inspection announced that the Tongyeong was fraught with problems which in part were caused by a number of military officers, including Hwang, suspected of taking bribes from a local firm that supplied faulty parts for the ship.
Hwang served as the head of the vessel project division at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in 2009.
The drawbacks effectively prevented the vessel from being deployed for rescue operations in the aftermath of the Sewol ferry sinking on April 16, one of the country's worst maritime disasters that killed more than 300 people.
The Hwang probe comes as the government has declared an "all-out war" on corruption in the wake of recent reports of several shady procurement deals that sparked skepticism over discipline and justice among government officials as well as the private sector.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo said that the recent bribery cases and supply of substandard military equipment are posing a threat to national security.
"The recent corruption cases from all sectors of society indicate that they may be just the beginning of a long series of corruption to come," the prime minister said in his first statement to the nation. "Now the government is declaring an all-out war on corruption."
He added, "The fate of the country depends on uprooting corruption. The government will make all efforts possible and accomplish the mission at any cost."
Lee Kyu-tae, chairman of Ilgwang Gongyeong, was detained Wednesday on charges of inflating the price of the Electronic Warfare Training System (EWTS) for the Air Force and creating a slush fund, according to the investigation team, comprised of prosecutors, military prosecutors, police and other related government agency officials.
In addition, former Navy chief Jung Ok-geun was indicted earlier this year for taking bribes from a local shipbuilder for granting favors in the Navy procurement programs.
The government launched the joint investigation team in November to root out corruption in the country's defense industry.
President Park Geun-hye has vowed to uproot widespread corruption within the defense industry, describing it as "action serving the interests of the enemy."
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| Hwang Ki-chul |
The joint government investigation team has reportedly called on Hwang as a suspect for questioning over his alleged role in the case.
Hwang stepped down last month to take responsibility for corruption allegations involving the 3,500-ton Tongyeong, the Navy's state-of-the-art salvage ship.
In December, the Board of Audit and Inspection announced that the Tongyeong was fraught with problems which in part were caused by a number of military officers, including Hwang, suspected of taking bribes from a local firm that supplied faulty parts for the ship.
Hwang served as the head of the vessel project division at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in 2009.
The drawbacks effectively prevented the vessel from being deployed for rescue operations in the aftermath of the Sewol ferry sinking on April 16, one of the country's worst maritime disasters that killed more than 300 people.
The Hwang probe comes as the government has declared an "all-out war" on corruption in the wake of recent reports of several shady procurement deals that sparked skepticism over discipline and justice among government officials as well as the private sector.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo said that the recent bribery cases and supply of substandard military equipment are posing a threat to national security.
"The recent corruption cases from all sectors of society indicate that they may be just the beginning of a long series of corruption to come," the prime minister said in his first statement to the nation. "Now the government is declaring an all-out war on corruption."
He added, "The fate of the country depends on uprooting corruption. The government will make all efforts possible and accomplish the mission at any cost."
Lee Kyu-tae, chairman of Ilgwang Gongyeong, was detained Wednesday on charges of inflating the price of the Electronic Warfare Training System (EWTS) for the Air Force and creating a slush fund, according to the investigation team, comprised of prosecutors, military prosecutors, police and other related government agency officials.
In addition, former Navy chief Jung Ok-geun was indicted earlier this year for taking bribes from a local shipbuilder for granting favors in the Navy procurement programs.
The government launched the joint investigation team in November to root out corruption in the country's defense industry.
President Park Geun-hye has vowed to uproot widespread corruption within the defense industry, describing it as "action serving the interests of the enemy."
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