By Jun Ji-hye
Eighteen sons of high-ranking public officials were exempted from military service this year after giving up their Korean citizenship, an opposition lawmaker claimed Tuesday.
Citing data from the Military Manpower Administration, Rep. Ahn Gyu-baek of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy said most of their fathers are senior government officials.
Ahn unveiled the data during a National Assembly audit session, without releasing the names of their fathers.
Among them, four were the sons of officials of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, while two were the sons of officials working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Especially, two sons of a science ministry official obtained Canadian citizenship. The remaining 16 all gained American citizenship.
“Sons of high-ranking public officials who avoid their obligation to serve in the military deserve criticism by every means,” Ahn said. “Stern measures against them are necessary.”
Rep. Ahn, who belongs to the National Assembly Defense Committee, noted that the number of those who were exempted from the service for loss or renunciation of citizenship has increased for the past three years to 4,386 in 2014 from 2,842 in 2012 and 3,075 in 2013.
The lawmaker added that there have also been cases where people stayed illegally in foreign countries without obtaining permanent residence and waited until they became 37, the age where they are old enough to be exempt from service. The number of these people was 139 as of May 31, and one of them was the son of an official of the Justice Ministry, the lawmaker said.
Among those who gave up their Korean citizenship after living in foreign countries until the age of 37, 23 in 2011, 12 in 2012, 20 in 2013 and 22 in 2014 recovered their Korean citizenship after being freed from the service, Ahn said.
These cases are in stark contrast to those who volunteered for military service even though they did not need to as permanent residents of other countries. The number of these people has increased to 436 in 2014 from 200 in 2011.
A total of 227 also volunteered for military service in 2014 after being legally exempted for illness but being cured afterward. Among them, 10 were the sons of high-ranking government officials.
“It is a good thing that some of the sons of high-ranking officials set an example of doing their duty by joining the military,” Ahn said.
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