President Lee: "Those Involved in the '12·3 Insurrection' Must Be Rooted Out from Military Personnel Decisions"

President Lee Presides Over Cabinet Meeting
To Defense Minister Yoon Hojung: "No Promotion Even for Minor Involvement"
"Even If There Are Unavoidable Institutional Aspects, Sufficient Explanation to the National Assembly Is Needed"
To Minister Won Minkyoung on Gender Conflict: "It Is Painful, but Wounds Must Be Opened Up to Be Treated"

President Lee Jaemyung requested that Defense Minister Ahn Kyubaek identify and exclude from promotion those within the military who were involved in, or are suspected of being involved in, the December 3 Martial Law. He also emphasized to Gender Equality and Family Minister Won Minkyoung the need to openly discuss and consistently debate issues in order to address the deepening gender conflict.

Yonhap News Agency

On October 14, presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan, President Lee referred to the National Assembly’s concerns that a colonel suspected of participating in the December 3 Martial Law had been included among promotion candidates. He told Minister Ahn, “Insurrection must be rooted out at its source. Especially when it comes to personnel matters, even if the degree of involvement is minor, if it is confirmed that someone participated or assisted, they must not be promoted.”

President Lee and Minister Ahn continued their discussion, acknowledging that there are unavoidable aspects to the personnel system, but agreed that if involvement is confirmed, exclusion is naturally possible, and even after a promotion, it can be revoked. President Lee added, “There are procedural aspects that are inevitable, and even if it is difficult to explain, you must provide sufficient explanations to the National Assembly.” In response, Minister Ahn said, “I will actively provide explanations going forward.”

Yonhap News Agency

To Minister Won, President Lee stressed the importance of bringing issues to the table and engaging in discussion as conflicts deepen. He said, “There are recommendations not to talk about gender conflict because there is no solution. However, the more this is the case, the more we must bring up the issues and debate them. We must correct all unreasonable conclusions; we cannot simply cover up smaller problems because there are bigger ones.”

President Lee continued, “Structural gender discrimination against women is widespread in matters such as promotion, but in some very specific areas, there are indeed cases where men are exceptionally discriminated against. It is painful, but wounds must be opened up to be treated.” He added, “Please listen to people’s stories and help them avoid suffering in silence. Isn’t the younger generation a generation to be pitied? Objectively, young people do not go hungry, but they are a generation with little hope. That is the responsibility of the older generation.” In response, Minister Won said, “I have felt these issues are problems, but I may have avoided them. I will actively engage in discussion to resolve them.”