Defense Minister Announces His Resignation over Shooting Rampage

On June 22, the public relations officer at the Defense Ministry Shin Hyeon-don said that the Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung expressed his intention to resign to President Roh Moo-hyun, taking responsibility for the shooting rampage that occurred at a guard post (GP) in the 28th Army division in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province.

Officer Shin stated that apart from his resignation announcement, Minister Yoon noted that he will concentrate on dealing with the follow-up measures of the incident and the victims.

It was reported that on the morning of June 22, Minister Yoon called Chief Presidential Secretary Kim Woo-sik and that accepting the responsibility for the incident, he announced his resignation in order to restore the Army’s tarnished reputation following the shooting spree at GP and to restore the public’s trust.

Minister Yoon, who took the post last July, has intensively pressed ahead with the participatory government’s defense reform, including the establishment of the defense business office that is fully responsible for introducing weapons of the Army.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Man-soo remarked, “As much as coping with, and completing, the incident is important, the shooting incident should be completed well,” and added that Cheong Wa Dae will take time to decide whether or not to accept Yoon’s resignation.

Meanwhile, prior to announcing his resignation, Minister Yoon asked commanders at brigade level or higher in an e-mail to actively participate in order to make senior soldiers resolutely give up their vested rights that they have so far intentionally or unintentionally learned.

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com