Prime minister defends ex-defense chief, reiterates calls for prompt medical reform

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a dinner meeting with reporters at his official residence in Sejong, Tuesday. Courtesy of Prime Minister's Office

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has defended former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, who left hastily for Australia to take up his post as Seoul’s new ambassador to Canberra despite being a suspect in an investigation into the death of a Marine, adding that Lee’s appointment and departure won’t cause any disruptions to the judicial proceedings by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).

“If the anti-corruption body says it needs to question him further, Lee will come back and face questioning at any time,” Han said during a dinner meeting with reporters, Tuesday. “It’s absurd to imagine that a high-ranking official who serves as an ambassador will not return to face charges. That won’t happen. He will always abide by the law.”

Lee departed on Sunday, two days after the Ministry of Justice lifted his travel ban. Unlike his predecessors, Lee left the country abruptly without receiving an original letter of credence from President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Lee has been under investigation for his alleged involvement in downplaying the military’s internal probe concerning the death of a Marine, named Chae Su-geun, who died during a search and rescue operation in July 2023. Lee was the defense minister at the time.

Following Lee’s abrupt departure, concerns were raised that his absence will cause major disruptions to the ongoing CIO investigations.

Han added that Lee’s appointment comes in line with the government’s plan to bolster defense industry cooperation with Australia.

Last year, Australia selected Hanwha Aerospace's Redback vehicle as the preferred bidder for its new infantry fighting vehicle project to acquire 129 next-generation armored vehicles by 2028. In addition, Korea is also interested in Australia's plan to build a new general-purpose frigate.

The prime minister also reiterated the government’s calls for prompt medical reform, saying that its plan to raise the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 annually is the bare minimum to meet the growing demand for health care spurred by an aging population.

“A scientific study suggests that there will be a shortage of around 10,000 doctors by 2035, so we decided to increase the enrollment by 2,000 in 2025. Since last year, we have met with the Korean Medical Association 28 times to discuss the increasing number of medical students. The association, however, was uncooperative and unresponsive. It kept arguing that increasing the number of medical students would be unnecessary,” he said.

Regarding the association’s request to postpone the government’s medical reform for now and form a special consultative body to discuss it again at a later date, he said, “If we don’t do it now and postpone it again, the public will suffer. If that happens, the government would be neglecting its duties. This is an imminent problem that must be solved.”

Referring to the Article 36 (3) of the Constitution, which says “the health of all citizens shall be protected by the State,” Han added, “Failing to protect the health of all citizens would be neglecting the state’s duties.”