State auditor to request for disciplinary action against Navy chief

By Jun Ji-hye

The state auditor will request the Ministry of National Defense to take disciplinary action against Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Hwang Ki-chul and hold him responsible for a case of defense industry corruption involving a faulty Navy ship, insiders said Tuesday.

The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) concluded that Hwang was deeply engaged in the process of selecting a supplier of an outdated sonar system for the first domestic-made rescue and salvage ship, the 3,500-ton Tongyeong, in January 2009. At that time he was serving as head of the department in charge of the vessel project at the military procurement agency.

Launched in September 2012, the ship failed to take part in the rescue operation after the Sewol ferry sank in April because of the malfunctioning sonar system. It sparked a huge controversy over deep-rooted corruption in the nation’s defense industry.

According to the BAI, Hwang pushed for a purchase agreement with the supplier even before the Defense Acquisition Program Administration secured the proper evaluation data. He also gave the company preference by postponing the deadline twice for submitting a plan for the project.

The state auditor has conducted an inspection into the case since May. It plans to determine which level of the disciplinary action it will request against Hwang, Thursday.

Defense Ministry vice spokesman Wi Yong-seop said, “The ministry will make an appropriate decision after the BAI makes an official request.”

He refused to elaborate on Hwang’s alleged wrongdoings, saying the ministry has not received the BAI report.

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