By Jun Ji-hye
The nation’s arms procurement agency plans to set up a new department that will take full charge of large-scale weapons development programs as part of efforts to root out corruption in arms deals.
Chang Myoung-jin, head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), told reporters Thursday that his agency will establish a new department, which will be joined by a number of civilians, by October.
If formed, the department will take charge of sharing technology with defense firms and making decisions for large-scale arms development programs totaling some 30 trillion won, he said.
The plan was part of DAPA’s reform measures amid an ongoing investigation by the prosecution into chronic corruption in the defense industry.
Jang made the announcement during a meeting with defense companies in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.
The establishment of the new department is aimed at expanding a high degree of technology acquired over the course of weapons development to the private sector so that cooperation between the military and civilians can be strengthened.
The new body will supervise projects such as the development of an indigenous fighter (KF-X), the development of 3,000-ton submarines capable of launching ballistic missiles, and the development of Light Armed Helicopter (LAH).
The DAPA said it will appoint a civilian as a head of the new department, and the total number of members will be about 200.
“It is required to set up the new department which will conduct responsible decision-making and professional project management in order to recover the public trust,” Chang said. “The DAPA will create the department by October after consulting with relevant ministries.”
A DAPA official said on condition of anonymity that the agency expects the new department to create more jobs as well.
However, skepticism has also been voiced how the DAPA can monitor and control such a giant organization.
Critics say that setting up the large department could create the dead zone of monitoring, and this could lead to causing more corruption.
Questions are also rising over the possible weakening professionalism of the department composed of a number of civilians.
In response, the DAPA said the participation of the civilian experts will enhance transparency of the process of the defense projects including the cost estimates.
Other reform measures announced on the day also included a system in which the DAPA can suspend a project if it gets involved with any suspicions. The DAPA will resume the suspended project after tracking suspicions elements down, it said.
The state-run procurement agency added that it will set up an audit advisory committee by recruiting four civilian experts.
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