Officials Say No to Wartime Control

Former ministers of defense and retired generals took to the streets in order to oppose the transfer of operational control.

At 3:00 p.m. on August 11, about 5,000 members of groups affiliated with retired soldiers such as the Korean Retired Generals and Admirals Association (KRGAA) and the National Action Campaign for Freedom and Democracy in Korea (NAC) held a demonstration in front of the Seoul Station Square to oppose the transfer of operational control and the dismantlement of the Combined Forces Command (CFC).

KRGAA Chairman Kim Sang-tae, eight former defense ministers including Lee Sang-hoon and Kim Sung-eun, and 60 other retired generals attended the demonstration wearing uniforms, which grabbed the attention of people.

They argued, “At a time where the Korea-U.S. alliance should be strengthened due to the North Korean missile situation, discussions to receive operational control and to dismantle the CFC should be stopped. The transfer of operational control is a serious issue affecting the fate of the country, so the people’s opinion should be asked, through national ballots or some other form of national opinion gathering.”

NAC Director Seo Jung-gap raised his voice, saying, “If the transfer of wartime operational control is pushed through unilaterally, we will start a movement to impeach or remove the president from his office.”

Former Minister of Defense Lee Sang-hoon claimed, “Even though Korea and the U.S. are currently sharing operation control, yet the participatory government is misleading the Korean people by making it look like it is monopolized by the U.S. and hence inciting anti-American sentiment.”

Another former Minister of Defense Kim Sung-eun criticized the government’s intentions, “The dismantlement of the CFC will lead to the collapse of the Korea-U.S. alliance, which will lead to economic ruin.”

After reciting their statements around 5:30 p.m., they marched to the Seoul Plaza, in front of Seoul City Hall.

creating@donga.com