Sung Iljong: "Requested the Appointment of Defense Minister Twice to the Democratic Party... This Dispute Is Ridiculous"

“It Is Embarrassing to Hear That Acting Prime Minister Choi Did Not Make the Request,” Says on Social Media

Seong Iljong of the People Power Party / Yonhap News Agency

Representative Sung Iljong of the People Power Party pointed out that “this kind of dispute itself is ridiculous” regarding Acting Prime Minister Choi Sangmok’s request to Democratic Party leader Lee Jaemyung to appoint the Minister of National Defense.

On the 24th, Representative Sung wrote on social media, “I requested the Democratic Party to appoint the Minister of National Defense twice, but there was no response.”

He continued, “Currently, the position of Minister of National Defense is vacant, and this is not a position that should be left unfilled. With the Army Chief of Staff and several commanders’ positions also vacant, this poses a very serious threat to national security.”

Previously, SBS reported that on the 13th, Acting Prime Minister Choi met with Leader Lee at the National Assembly and suggested discussing the appointment of a new Minister of National Defense at a tripartite consultative body, but Lee did not respond.

However, the Democratic Party refuted this on the same day, stating, “We never received such a request.”

Representative Sung asserted, “As the chairman of the National Defense Committee, I requested twice to senior Democratic Party lawmakers to cooperate in appointing the Minister of National Defense, but received a reply that they could not cooperate.”

He added, “They now say Acting Prime Minister Choi did not request the appointment of the Minister of National Defense when meeting with Leader Lee Jaemyung, but this kind of dispute itself is ridiculous.”

He emphasized, “What is the Democratic Party thinking about national defense? Even if the political situation is chaotic, shouldn’t there be absolutely no gaps when it comes to national defense?”

Representative Sung further questioned, “The claim that Acting Prime Minister Choi did not make such a request is truly embarrassing. Didn’t I, as the chairman of the National Defense Committee, make the request twice?”

He concluded, “Once a hole is created in security, it cannot be undone. I urge the Democratic Party to cooperate in appointing the Minister of National Defense as soon as possible.”