President expected to go ahead with troubled defense chief appointment
By Kim Tae-gyu
Kim Byung-kwan Defense Minister nominee
President Park Geun-hye is expected to appoint Kim Byung-kwan as her defense minister today, despite strong protests from the opposition party, said officials from Cheong Wa Dae, Monday.
Members of the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) taking part in the confirmation hearings refused to adopt a consenting report for the Defense Minister nominee.
Various allegations have been made against Kim, including tax evasion and property speculation.
President Park is expected to appoint him today as the chief of national defense at a time when North Korea is ratcheting up its threats in response to South Korea’s joint military drills with the United States, called Key Resolve.
It is feared that if the controversial nominee is appointed, it will further damage the already strained relationship between the president and the main opposition party over the government restructuring bill.
As the appointment of ministers is not subject to parliamentary approval, President Park has the power to appoint Cabinet members.
“At a time when national security is especially significant, the minister’s post should be assumed by one who is perfect in terms of both policies and ethics,” said Rep. Ahn Gyu-baek, the DUP leader in the Defense Committee.
“President Park should not appoint this nominee as it would go against the will of the people.”
He said Park should take responsibility for all the consequences from the appointment of Kim as defense minister against the wishes of the opposition.
Jung Sung-ho, another spokesman for the DUP, also said that, if appointed, Kim would be “another threat to the nation’s security.”
He warned that an appointment without consent from the opposition would further worsen the relationship between Cheong Wa Dae and the DUP.
Kim, a former deputy commander of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) is suspected of using insider military information to obtain land slated to be purchased by the government later for substantial capital gain.
The retired four-star general was also grilled about playing golf on March 27, 2010, when the nation was grieving the sinking of Cheonan, a navy frigate, the previous night that claimed the lives of 46 sailors.
On Nov. 24, 2010, he went on a spa tour around Japan with his wife. This was also a day after North Korea’s artillery caused loss of life, shelling the border island of Yeonpyeong, and killing four people including two civilians.
Playing golf and embarking on overseas trips are not against the law, but opposition lawmakers slammed Kim for his leisure activities, saying that a nominee due to take ultimate responsibility for national defense should know how to behave during periods of national mourning.
The thorniest issue during the hearing was that Kim worked as a consultant for an arms broker involved in a dubious deal that led to faulty parts for tanks being imported from Germany, between 2010 and 2012.
Kim apologized for playing golf and going on the spa trip at inappropriate times but denied the other allegations. With regard to the lucrative consulting job, he said he never played the role of a lobbyist. If proved wrong, he added, he will stand down.