JCS chief criticized for drinking
By Jun Ji-hye
Choi Yoon-hee
Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Adm. Choi Yoon-hee is under fire for drinking with JCS officers the day after landmines laid by North Korean soldiers injured South Korean soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
According to officials, Thursday, Choi had dinner and drank with 11 JCS officers in a restaurant near the Ministry of National Defense in central Seoul on the night of Aug. 5 even though he was aware the North might be behind the explosions.
The dinner was just one day after the explosions severely wounded two South Korean soldiers who were on a regular patrol in the South-controlled area of the DMZ.
It was also only a few hours after the JCS explained to a group of reporters at the ministry that the North was believed to have buried the mines. At the time, the JCS and the ministry requested a news embargo until after their official announcement, citing that there would be a risk of further provocations by the North. The press accepted this and did not report on the story until after Monday’s announcement.
Critics say Choi drinking that day was highly improper.
This adds to the controversy over the government’s bungled response to the explosions.
The presidential office has been under fire for belatedly holding a National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Aug. 8, four days after the incident. The Ministry of Unification was also criticized for offering high-level talks on pending issues to the North right after the explosions. The untimely offer apparently showed a communication breakdown between the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of National Defense.
After receiving inquires from reporters, Choi first denied that he drank that night. However, the JCS later admitted that Choi had drinks with officers, stressing that the meeting was planned weeks ago, and that Choi and the participants did not drink “heavily.”
“Choi drank two or three glasses of beer considering the situation at the time,” the JCS said in a statement.
The JCS acknowledged that the timing of the dining was improper, but stressed that Choi was not drunk.
This incident recalls a similar case involving a former JCS chairman Lee Sang-eui.
Lee stepped down from his position in 2010 after being caught commanding operations after drinking alcohol on the day Pyongyang torpedoed the South Korean Navy frigate Cheonan, killing 46 sailors.
On the morning of Aug. 4, three North Korean-made wooden box antipersonnel landmines exploded inside the DMZ near Paju, Gyeonggi Province, when eight South Korean 1st Infantry Division soldiers were on routine patrol.
A staff sergeant indentified only by his surname Ha lost both legs from below the knee, while another staff sergeant surnamed Kim had his right foot amputated below the ankle.
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