80% of Koreans want Defense Security Command dismantled
Defense Minister Song Young-moo, right, meets the Republic of Korea Air Force's Jeon Ik-soo at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Thursday. Jeon was designated chief of the special investigation team probing the controversial plan by the Defense Security Command to launch martial law when then President Park Geun-hye's ouster was being finalized by the Constitutional Court in 2016. Yonhap
Eight out of 10 South Koreans support overhauling or dismantling the military's intelligence unit, a survey showed Thursday, following revelations the unit reviewed the possibility of martial law last year in response to protests calling for then President Park Geun-hye's ouster.
A Defense Security Command (DSC) document, drawn up last year and disclosed by a ruling party lawmaker and a civic group last week, has shocked many as it showed the military considered imposing martial law and mobilizing forces to quell candlelight protests against Park.
The survey agency Realmeter asked 502 adults on Wednesday about what should be done about the DSC, and 44.3 percent responded that it should be completely overhauled to focus on anti-espionage and anti-terrorism duties without getting involved in domestic politics.
Those calling for completely dismantling the unit amounted to 34.7 percent, meaning that 79 percent either support either overhauling or scrapping the unit. Only 11.3 percent said the unit should be left as it is now, the survey showed.
President Moon Jae-in views the case seriously and ordered a thorough investigation.
The survey showed Moon's approval rating fell 1.3 percentage points to 68 percent, while his ruling Democratic Party saw its rating fall 3.2 percentage points to 44.3 percent. (Yonhap)