Defense and Security Experts Enter Yeouido [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Opposition's Bu Seung-chan, Kim Byung-joo, Min Hong-chul Deployed Forward
Proportional Representation Security Experts Positioned in Conservative Camp

In the 22nd National Assembly elections, a large number of security experts entered Yeouido. With the Democratic Party of Korea securing a majority of seats on its own, the advancement of former defense officials is prominent, and it is expected to influence the current government's foreign and security policies.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Central Election Commission on the 11th, Bu Seung-chan, the Democratic Party candidate, was elected in the Gyeonggi 'Yongin-si Byeong' district. Bu Seung-chan, a former spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, was born in 1970 and is from Jeju. After graduating from the Air Force Academy (43rd class), he was commissioned in 1993 and served as an Air Force officer for 18 years, retiring as a major. After resigning as spokesperson, he published "Power and Security," which included stories about the Moon Jae-in administration's defense secrets and allegations of shamanism involving Cheongong, a mentor figure to President Yoon. Due to the Confidentiality Protection Act, his home and vehicle were raided and seized by the Defense Counterintelligence Command.

In Namyangju-si Eul, Gyeonggi Province, Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party was elected. Kim served as a proportional representative member of the 21st National Assembly. He won the nomination after a primary in a favorable situation due to a penalty imposed on the incumbent Kim Han-jung, who was re-elected in Namyangju Eul.

In Gimhae, a key area in the Nakdong River belt and a district of interest in the 22nd general election, the Democratic Party achieved a landslide victory, with Min Hong-chul elected for his fourth term entering Yeouido. Gimhae experienced a political event when former President Roh Moo-hyun returned home and passed away in May 2009, which changed voter sentiment and created the Nakdong River belt. Min, a graduate of Busan National University Law School, passed the military legal officer appointment exam in 1984 and was commissioned as an army lieutenant the following year. He served as chief military judge of the Army High Court, legal staff officer of the 1st Field Army Command, among other posts. After promotion to brigadier general, he served as legal inspector of the Army Headquarters and president of the Ministry of National Defense High Military Court. After entering politics, he was elected chairman of the National Defense Committee in the National Assembly in 2020.

Han Ki-ho, elected from Gangwon's Chuncheon, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, and Yanggu districts, is a leading figure from the People Power Party. He has reached his fourth term. The Chuncheon district is regarded as having reaffirmed conservative voter sentiment. Han was commissioned from the Korea Military Academy's 31st class and served as commander of the 2nd Division, chief of the Army Headquarters Intelligence and Operations Department, commander of the 5th Corps, and commander of the Army Training Command before retiring as a lieutenant general. He entered Yeouido by running as the Grand National Party candidate in the 18th general election by-election for the Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Yanggu, and Inje district. He subsequently served as a member of the 19th and 21st National Assemblies and held roles such as chairman of the People Power Party's National Security Committee, chairman of the National Flag Disorder Task Force, and chairman of the North Korean Nuclear Special Committee.

In Gyeongbuk's Yeongju, Yeongyang, Bonghwa, and Uljin districts, Im Jong-deuk was elected as a first-term member. Im, from the 42nd class of the Korea Military Academy, served as the 2nd Deputy Director of the National Security Office. He graduated from Daegu Cheonggu High School, was commissioned as an officer, and retired as a major general in 2019. He holds a master's degree in international relations from Old Dominion University in the U.S. and a doctorate in political science from Gyeongnam National University. He was appointed as the 2nd Deputy Director of the National Security Office in 2022. He has faced calls for resignation from opposition parties over allegations of external pressure related to the 'Chae Sang-byeong death incident.'

Kim Yong-tae, a former Supreme Council member of the People Power Party and a young candidate in his 30s, also secured election. Born in 1990, he is 33 years old this year. Kim, who belonged to the 'Cheon Ayongin' faction close to former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok (currently leader of the Reform New Party), chose to remain in the People Power Party at the end of last year and was nominated for Pocheon-Gapyeong. He was commissioned as a lieutenant from the 51st ROTC class.

Proportional representatives known as 'security experts' also stand out. Kang Sun-young, former commander of the Army Aviation Operations Command, ranked 5th on the People’s Future proportional list, and Yoo Yong-won, former military correspondent for the Chosun Ilbo, ranked 12th, are both positioned securely on the list and are poised to enter the National Assembly.

Kang Sun-young, who ran under the People’s Future, a satellite party of the People Power Party, graduated from Sookmyung Women's University with a degree in public administration and was commissioned as a female officer from the 35th class. In 2019, she became the first female combat arms officer to be promoted to major general and served as commander of the Army Aviation Operations Command. She is the first female combat unit commander since the founding of the army. In February 2024, she was recruited by the People Power Party and nominated as the 5th candidate on the People’s Future proportional representation list.

Yoo Yong-won, a proportional representative candidate for People’s Future, served as a defense correspondent for 31 years since 1993, covering seven presidents and some of the 20 defense ministers. It is unprecedented in the domestic media industry for a journalist to cover one institution for over 30 years. Ahead of this general election, he accepted an offer from the People Power Party and was assigned the 12th spot on the People’s Future proportional representation list.

Additionally, Park Chung-kwon, ranked 2nd on the People’s Future proportional list, is a notable figure with a unique background. Before defecting from North Korea in 2008, he worked at North Korea’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Research Institute, assisting in the development of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Wi Seong-rak, ranked 2nd on the Democratic Party’s satellite party Democratic United proportional list, is a former ambassador to Russia who advocates for 'peace diplomacy' centered on denuclearization. He is considered aligned with opposition party values. From the Innovation Party, Kim Jun-hyung, former president of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy who played a key role in establishing the Moon Jae-in administration’s diplomacy, secured a prominent spot as the 6th proportional representative candidate.