By Jun Ji-hye
The government is considering appointing a senior prosecutor as a defense project supervisor in an effort to rein in corruption within the defense industry, officials said Monday.
The position of defense project supervisor is a director-level post directly under the head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
“The government is considering appointing a prosecutor as a defense project supervisor, a post newly created at the end of last month,” a government official told reporters on condition of anonymity. “The supervisor will be tasked with monitoring major phases of a defense project such as the assessment of proposals, purchase decisions and conclusion of contracts.”
The main task of the supervisor will be to review the propriety and legal validity of each defense project, the official said, adding that he or she will also be tasked with any lawsuits related to a defense project.
It is exceptional for an incumbent prosecutor to be appointed to a post at the arms procurement agency.
A DAPA official noted, on condition of anonymity, that details about the post will be disclosed only after an employment notice is issued later this week.
The creation of a defense project supervisor was included in a set of measures announced in October by a task force comprised of officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of National Defense and DAPA to ensure fair and transparent arms deals.
The government has made a significant effort to end rampant defense corruption since 2014, which President Park Geun-hye called an act harming national security and benefiting the enemy.
The prosecution has carried out a large-scale investigation for almost a year since November of 2014 into a variety of corruption cases within defense industries. Those indicted included retired Adm. Choi Yoon-hee, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who allegedly accepted bribes to help facilitate an arms deal.
However, skepticism is also abounding about where there is a qualified person with expertise in arms procurement projects and deals among prosecutors.
Critics also say that a director-level supervisor may have some limits in monitoring defense projects independently because there is a possibility that higher-level officials, including military commanders, could try to assert their influence.
Critics say that how professional and how independent the supervisor is will prove to be the key to eradicating the sources of widespread defense corruption.
The government is also planning to beef up personnel in charge of audits at DAPA after accepting criticism that the 12 officials currently employed are not enough to inspect DAPA’s ongoing projects, some 440 defense projects worth 11 trillion won.
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