'Military Service Records Submission Refusal' Controversy: Hong Ji-sun Says, "I Completed My Military Service Normally... Even the MMA Cannot Confirm the Reason for My Grade 4 Classification"

[Financial News] Hong Ji-sun, nominee for minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, explained on the 11th that he had "completed his military service normally in accordance with the law, and received a response that even the Military Manpower Administration could not confirm why he had been classified as Grade 4," addressing the controversy over his alleged refusal to submit military service records ahead of his confirmation hearing.
Earlier, some media outlets raised suspicions that records had been withheld, reporting that Kim Jong Yang, a People Power Party lawmaker on the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee of the National Assembly, had requested 10 items of military service-related information from the Military Manpower Administration, which replied, "We cannot submit them because the nominee did not consent to the disclosure of his personal information."
In response, Hong's side distributed an explanatory press release on the afternoon of the same day and countered, "We have already submitted a military service certificate showing that he completed his service normally as part of the materials requested for the confirmation hearing."
Hong explained, "After being classified for Grade 4 supplementary service in accordance with the law and other regulations, I completed my military service normally from August 26, 1991, to February 25, 1993." The submitted military service certificate includes information such as whether he performed military service, his rank, branch, date of enlistment or call-up, date and reason for discharge or release from call-up, and the unit in which he served.
Regarding criticism that the specific reason for his Grade 4 physical classification was missing, he explained that he had even asked the Military Manpower Administration to verify it directly but had been unable to obtain an answer.
Hong's side stated, "The reason for the classification was not recorded even on the military service record sheet issued by the Military Manpower Administration to verify the specific reason," adding, "We therefore asked the Military Manpower Administration again to confirm the reason, but received a response saying, 'The reason for the classification cannot be confirmed from the military service record sheet.'"
[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter