"Emotional Remarks on Military Exemption
Were Effectively a Confession"
During the confirmation hearing for Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim, the reason for military service exemption for Jinu Woo, a member of the People Power Party, was raised. In response, Deukgu Kang, a member of the Democratic Party, sharply criticized, stating, "His emotional remarks regarding his own military exemption were effectively a confession."
Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim listens to a question from Jinu Woo, a member of the People Power Party, during a confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 25th, Kang wrote on his Facebook page, "I was dumbfounded by Representative Woo's demand for an apology," and added, "Did he ever apologize for repeatedly slandering nominee Kim, his family, and myself, Deukgu Kang, without any fact-checking?"
On the 24th, during the confirmation hearing for nominee Kim at the National Assembly, Representative Woo's personal illness was mentioned amid ongoing debate surrounding the nominee.
Gyutaek Kwak, a member of the People Power Party, stated, "Neither President Jaemyung Lee nor nominee Minseok Kim have ever served in the military." In response, Sunwon Park, a member of the Democratic Party, countered, "One person was exempted from military service due to acute hepatitis, but nominee Kim served three years in prison as an alternative to military service." Representative Woo was exempted from military service after being classified for wartime labor due to hepatitis.
In response, Woo said, "Representative Park mentioned the reason for my military exemption," and continued, "No matter how low the dignity of the National Assembly may fall, it is unacceptable to disclose another person's medical treatment details in this way. I demand an apology."
Regarding this, Kang argued, "He admitted that his own military exemption was not above board." Kang continued, "According to the materials Representative Woo disclosed during the National Assembly election, he was not initially eligible for exemption in his first conscription physical examination, but after submitting a request for a change in military status and undergoing another examination, he was granted a level 5 exemption due to hepatitis." Kang then asked, "I ask Representative Woo: was it acute hepatitis or chronic hepatitis?"
Kang further explained, "There is no level 5 exemption for acute hepatitis. If it was acute hepatitis, this raises suspicions of military service evasion. According to medical experts, acute hepatitis is a disease in which inflammation disappears within six months and does not qualify as grounds for military exemption. Even under the military physical examination regulations in effect in 1995, when Representative Woo appears to have been re-examined, acute hepatitis?whether acute (active) or requiring observation?would result in a level 7 re-examination, not an exemption. In other words, after treatment and a follow-up examination, if the condition improved, he would be classified as fit for active duty."
Kang added, "If it was chronic hepatitis, a level 5 exemption is possible, but suspicions still remain unresolved." He continued, "According to the military physical examination regulations at that time, a level 5 exemption for chronic hepatitis could only be granted in two cases: if abnormal liver function test results persisted for more than 12 months, or if a tissue biopsy confirmed chronic hepatitis."
Kang also claimed that Woo is known to enjoy drinking alcohol. He said, "Chronic hepatitis, as the name suggests, does not go away easily and can worsen due to stress or alcohol consumption, requiring extremely strict health management. Yet, it is already widely known that Representative Woo enjoys drinking," and added, "He should immediately disclose his conscription physical examination records and current treatment records."
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