Former Defense Minister Joins GNP

Former Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo, who was nicknamed “upright Jang-soo” as the last defense minister of the Roh Moo-hyun administration, joined the Grand National Party on March 16.

GNP spokeswoman Na Kyung-won said at a press briefing, “Former Minister Kim handed in the application on March 16 to join our party after our repeated call. By joining the GNP, Kim will make a vital contribution to building national security.”

Initially, Kim had refused GNP’s proposal to join the party, saying he has “no will to enter politics.” Later, however, he was persuaded when the ruling party invited him strongly, saying his advice on the defense matters, since he knows most about the former administration’s handling of security issues, will help the new administration enhance national defense.

“The utmost service a nation can provide to the people is security, and I believe there’s no room for a political dispute on this. I’ll clearly tell the government what I think about national defense and help enhance security in the nation,” Kim said Sunday. He is expected to be given PR (proportional representation) number 2, next to PR number 1 which is given to a female member.

The United Democratic Party and the GNP competed intensely with each other to bring in Kim. GNP chairman Kang Jae-sup had a talk with him over the bowl to persuade the ex-defense chief.

The UDP on the same day criticized both Kim and the GNP, saying, “Former Minister Kim requested the UDP to give him PR number 2 for the honor of 600,000 military servicemen. It is bad manner to cut in like this, when the opposition party has paid such efforts to bring in him.”

The Dong-A Ilbo attempted to contact Kim to confirm the UDP’s claim but failed to get in touch.

jameshuh@donga.com