Military factions blocked THAAD info: lawmaker

By Choi Ha-young

Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo

A ruling party lawmaker alleged Friday that illegal military factions tied to former National Security Office (NSO) chief Kim Kwan-jin were behind the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system here.

One of the factions, “Aljahoe,” played a role in keeping President Moon Jae-in in the dark about the delivery of four additional THAAD launchers, according to Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo of the Democratic Party of Korea.

“It is highly suspected that the group has monopolized key posts in the military with help from high-ranking officials including Kim,” the lawmaker said.

“For almost 10 years, Kim and his associates took control of all personnel affairs in the military. Using their influence, they could distort and conceal information about THAAD.”

Kim had served as NSO head from 2014 up to May 21 this year. Before this, he was minister of national defense from 2010 in the ex-President Lee Myung-bak administration. He was a core decision maker in the THAAD deployment last year that was carried forward even after ex-President Park Geun-hye was ousted.

According to Hong, Kim has also led his own faction called “Doksapa.”

“It’s convincing that some high-ranking officials meddled in the report to the commander in chief. How could it be possible without the private relationship between individual soldiers?”

To root out the military factions, which are prohibited by law, Hong proposed detailed inspection of them, along with tight civil control over the military.

Two former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan (1980-88) and Roh Tae-woo (1988-93) were tied to a military faction called “Hanahoe.” The group was dismantled in 1993.

After learning that the Ministry of National Defense intentionally omitted mentioning the delivery of four THAAD launchers, Moon ordered a thorough investigation into the case Tuesday. Some DPK lawmakers are pushing for a National Assembly hearing on the issue.

This is not the first time that the military has isolated a liberal president from its report system. In 2004, during former President Roh Moo-hyun administration, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command dealt with Operational Plan 5029 without officially reporting to Cheong Wa Dae, according to the local daily Hankyoreh, Thursday.