Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek Demands Apology: Is the Korean Military Being Undermined?

has fired back at opposition lawmakers who claimed the South Korean military is “assisting Kim Jong-un.” The Defense Minister demanded an apology for these “absurd remarks” directed at the armed forces and the public.

He insisted on a formal apology.

Fresh from a defense diplomacy mission to Saudi Arabia, Ahn expressed his dismay, stating, “I was briefed about an embarrassing incident in the National Assembly. How dare they make such accusations against our military?”

The Defense Minister emphasized, “While government policies and ministerial actions are open to criticism, there are boundaries that should not be crossed.” He added, “Language unfit for public discourse has no place in parliamentary sessions.”

Ahn asserted, “As the Secretary of Defense, I can state with absolute certainty that our military has always been, and will continue to be, devoted solely to the welfare of our nation and its citizens. Our allegiance lies with the people, and we will continue to fulfill our duty as servicemembers.”

The controversy arose when Representative Park Choong-kwon criticized Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, alleging that the South Korean military is failing in its primary duty to deter North Korean threats. Park claimed, “The military lacks threat awareness, countermeasures, discipline, and training. There’s only one thing they excel at.”