MND Prosecutor’s Office Summons, Investigates General in Charge of Personnel in Army Headquarters

Ministry of National Defense (MND) Prosecutor’s Office, investigating suspicions of corruption on the promotion of army generals, summoned Brigadier General Park, who is in charge of personnel works in the army, on November 26. This is the first time a general has been summoned since the investigation took off.

On this day, MND Prosecutor’s Office questioned General Park on suspicions of exercising influence on not only assignment personnel but also on promotion personnel.

MND Prosecutor’s Office is planning to summon another general who participated as a member of the selection committee on the assessment process of promotion personnel early next week. Also, the prosecution is also considering tracking the bank accounts of other generals who might have an influence on the promotions.

An official of MND Prosecutor’s Office said, “We cannot ignore the consequences of Army Chief of Staff Nam Jae-joon’s resignation, but the goal of this investigation is to settle all doubts,” adding, “The summoning and prosecution of all related parties will be done normally under the set legal standards and procedures.”

MND Prosecutor’s Office also investigated documents written by Defense Security Command related to officers subject to promotion, and found out that three out of four officers under suspicion were dropped, but one was promoted.

Meanwhile, MND Prosecutor’s Office is having conflicts with the MND’s joint investigation group, because when the group requested the inquiry of soldiers’ call records in order to find out who wrote the strange documents related to the promotion corruption scandal, it refused, “We do not have the grounds for prosecution since no victims are pressing charges.”

Ho-Won Choi bestiger@donga.com