Suspicion raised over military general’s retirement through fake documents

“Not to investigate a case involving a military general who retired by using fabricating official documents is a plot to cover up the case.”

This is what Rep. Kwon Eun-hee of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, a member of the parliamentary National Defense Committee, said of a case involving former major general, identified by his last name Hong who is suspected of having falsely retired. She made the remarks at parliamentary inspection of the Army and other units at the Gyeryongdae in South Chungcheong Province on Wednesday. Kwon said, “Hong’s application form for retirement was fabricated, and there was no such a form under the Army rules.” Hong, who reportedly retired one month after conducting inappropriate personal behaviors rather than lung cancer last year, has been confirmed to have landed job at a small company.

The Army’s application form for retirement includes a form "annex No. 16," in which he or she is required to report corruptions, disciplinary actions given during active duty service, and cases that are under investigation. However, Hong’s application did not have a column to fill in such information. When Kwon said that the most important information is omitted, Maj. Gen. Kim Hae-seok, the Army’s deputy chief of staff for personnel, said, “I have never seen such a retirement application form.”

“Sanctioning process for retirement of a military general reaches the deputy chief of staff for personnel, the Army Chief of Staff, and even the Defense Minister. At the time of general Hong’s retirement, Kim Kwan-jin, the incumbent head of the presidential national security office, was the defense minister,” Kwon said. “Considering that Hong even switched the application form for retirement, it is not a simple issue of personal affairs. Before Hong retired in May last year, there was a case in which private first class Hong was beaten to death in April. His seniors are suspected that during that period, the military’s leadership might have systematically fabricated applications for retirement.”

On this comment, Army Chief of Staff Jang Joon-kyu said, “The inspection office of the Army is investigating the case. After checking the result of inspection, we will investigate the case when deemed necessary.” Kwon replied, “It is a clear case of fabrication of official documents. Why you are not investigating the case immediately?”

neone@donga.com