Sons' military service, stumbling block for politicians

Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae leaves the Gwacheon Government Complex in Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. / Yonhap

By Park Han-sol

The country has recently seen a political scandal erupt over Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's alleged abuse of power to help her son receive preferential treatment during his military service years ago when she was the leader of the ruling party.

Clearly, the issue of their sons' military service is a sensitive subject for politicians in Korea, where all men physically capable of doing so must fulfill the duty, so much so that it becomes a major stumbling block in their political careers.

Even before Choo, there have been numerous cases where lawmakers, elected officials and other public figures have faced criticism over allegations that their children were illicitly exempted from the mandatory service or received preferential treatment while in the military thanks to their influential parents.

The most notable case involved Lee Hoi-chang, former chairman of the Grand National Party (GNP), a predecessor of the current main opposition People Power Party (PPP), and a three-time presidential candidate. In his presidential race in 1997 and 2002 when he led in early polls, his two sons' alleged draft dodging caused his ratings to plummet and ultimately led to his defeat both times.

Lee Hoi-chang, candidate of the Grand National Party (a precursor to the People Power Party), expresses regret over allegations regarding his two sons' draft dodging, at the party headquarters in Seoul during the presidential race in this Aug. 3, 1997 photo. / Korea Times file

The first allegation raised in 1997 claimed the sons deliberately lost a significant amount of weight before their physical examinations so as not to meet the required health conditions for service, but faded from public attention as there was no proof. The second arose in 2002 when former military officer Kim Dae-yeop claimed Lee's family offered him money in return for using his influence to help their sons avoid military service and that the GNP had covered this up during the previous election. Kim's claims were later proven false and he served jail terms for defamation and fraud, but this was after Lee had already lost the election.

Draft dodging is also one of the most frequently visited topics during confirmation hearings for nominees for prime minister. In 2013 and in 2015, Chung Hong-won and Lee Wan-koo, respectively, were both attacked with a barrage of questions regarding their sons' military exemptions based on contentious medical conditions.

Suspicions regarding the preferential treatment of their children in the military were raised for Hwang Kyo-ahn, former leader of the United Future Party (UFP), another predecessor of the PPP, and Woo Byung-woo, a former senior secretary for ex-President Park Geun-hye.

The enlistment of Hwang's son in 2009 sparked controversy as the son's assigned unit was located in Daegu, where the father was serving as chief prosecutor of the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office, and his position was switched to an administrative officer from a rank-and-file soldier. Woo was accused of helping his son be assigned to a relatively safe position as a driver in the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency during his service in 2016.

The late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was embroiled in his son's alleged draft evasion since his inauguration in 2011 to his death in July this year. His son was sent home four days after he joined the Air Force in 2011 due to pain in his legs and a medical checkup at the Military Manpower Administration later showed he had a herniated disc, which exempted him from the service. Some raised the suspicion that his medical records were doctored, and the allegations led the junior Park to undergo a new checkup in 2012 in front of reporters as witnesses. Although the doctors confirmed the disc herniation, some conservative figures continued to raise questions.

Yoon Do-heum, a doctor at Yonsei Severance Hospital, gives a briefing about an MRI scan taken of the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's son amid suspicions of his draft dodging, at the hospital in Seoul in this Feb. 22, 2012, photo. / Korea Times file

Fairness issue

Article 39 of the Constitution requires all male Korean citizens aged 18 and older to serve in the military for at least 18 months, unless eligible for an exemption. In most cases, exemptions are offered to those with serious health conditions or high-achieving athletes and artists who have contributed to the promotion of national prestige.

Whereas the exemption standard for athletes and artists are more clearly stipulated in the Military Service Act ― when winning medals at international sports events or at designated arts competitions ― medical exemption is more contentious and open to abuse.

To the average Korean citizen, allegations of this abuse have given the impression that the obligation to serve the country is optional for the children of prominent figures and tramples the public's desire for the upholding of fairness.

“As a person whose brother faithfully fulfilled his enlistment obligation, I strongly feel it is unjust that sons of high ranking officials are the beneficiaries of special treatment in the military. A majority of men in this country are forced to sacrifice time when they are young for at least a year-and-a-half. However, some children of prominent figures, who are already ahead of others in terms of wealth and power, get to take another step forward with additional time gained via their exemption,” Kwon Mi-yeon, whose brother was discharged from the Army in 2019, told The Korea Times.

“I am sorry for my son that I cannot be that kind of a parent and he must feel upset for not getting to have that kind of a parent,” Jung Jong-hee, who has a 24-year-old son, said, expressing disappointment regarding the scandal surrounding Choo. “The sense of loss we feel is incredible when people in authority wield power like this. I casted my votes to select some of the lawmakers and officials, and it is morally unacceptable they use that power not for us, but for their own benefit.”

As in Choo's case, this sentiment can negatively affect the career of those in power. Well aware of this, politicians also take advantage of such military service-related scandals to attack the rival parties or politicians and highlight their achievements ― as the PPP does now.

Rep. Cho Su-jin of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) posts photos of the party members and their sons in military uniforms amid allegations of preferential treatment surrounding Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's son. / Captured from Rep. Cho Su-jin's Facebook

Some members of the PPP have proposed a revision bill to prevent attempted influence peddling in military service affairs while others have even posted photos of their sons in military uniform on social media to “prove” their families have devoted themselves to serving their country.

“I'm dumbfounded to see that someone is receiving preferential treatment and taking it for granted in a relatively lax unit, while others faithfully complete their service in harsh environments,” PPP Rep. Song Seog-jun wrote on Facebook, Sept. 9, referring to Choo's case, along with pictures of him and his son in a Marine Corps uniform posing side by side.