Kang Shin-chul: "I Am Committed to Integrating the Military Academies... The Current Plan Needs to Be Revised"

[Financial News] Kang Shin-chul, nominee for minister of National Defense, indicated on the 16th that he supports integrating the Korea Military Academy, Republic of Korea Naval Academy, and Republic of Korea Air Force Academy. However, he said the government's current basic plan needs to be revised. He directly denied real estate allegations involving his family that emerged during the confirmation hearing.
The National Defense Committee of the National Assembly held a plenary meeting at the National Assembly that day and conducted Kang's confirmation hearing.
Kim Byung-joo, the Democratic Party of Korea's ranking member on the National Defense Committee, asked Kang, "On future battlefields, the operational domains of the Army, Navy, and Air Force will overlap, while space and cyberspace will also be interconnected, making it necessary to develop integrated talent. The integration of the military academies is a demand of the times. What is your position?"
Kang replied, "I believe integrated education is necessary. Above all, military academies are institutions that cultivate outstanding talent for the future. If the National Assembly supports me, I will pursue reform with determination."
Min Hong-chul of the Democratic Party of Korea said, "I believe the nominee faces difficulties in pursuing the integration of the military academies because he is a graduate of the Korea Military Academy. Many generals who graduated from the Korea Military Academy still oppose it. Do you have the confidence and determination to overcome that resistance?"
Kang responded, "What is more important than criticism is truly producing outstanding talent. I am committed to reform," he reiterated.
He added, "We need to study the current basic plan for integrating the military academies more closely. Personally, I can see areas that need to be revised. There are many ways to integrate them. There are various opinions, and they are not necessarily wrong. I will listen to those opinions, develop a sound plan, and explain it to you."
Regarding another major defense issue, the transfer of wartime operational control, Kang said, "Successive governments have continued to pursue it. I believe our conditions have now been substantially improved and the necessary circumstances are in place. It should be pursued in a way that allows South Korea and the United States to trust each other within the alliance."
Conservative lawmakers focused heavily during the hearing on real estate allegations involving Kang and his family.
Chun Ha-ram of the Reform Party pressed the issue, saying, "I mentioned the term 'special allocation for demolition victims,' and he answered that he had heard it for the first time from me. The applicant for the apartment's special allocation for demolition victims is listed as Kang Shin-chul. Didn't the nominee apply for it himself?"
He continued, "The special allocation for demolition victims is a system for vulnerable people who have been displaced by demolition and have no other home. It also requires that they own no other real estate and actually live there. But were Kang or his father really in the same situation as genuine demolition victims? Isn't this shameful?"
Responding to Chun's allegations, Kang said, "It was carried out in accordance with the government's compensation procedures. The government proceeded exactly according to the agreement negotiated by my family, and I never spoke with anyone about it. At the time, I was serving on the front line." He denied allegations of an improper housing application.
Kang's son was also criticized for purchasing a commercial building worth approximately 700 million won in Yangji Village, Bundang, Seongnam-si.
Sung Il-jong of the People Power Party said, "While people in their 20s and 30s are on the verge of being forced onto the streets because they cannot afford even a single home and rents are soaring, the ministerial nominee's son, while starting his working life, bought a commercial property said to be worth 700 million won in pursuit of an apartment presale right. As minister of National Defense, he would be in a position to command an army of 500,000 personnel, including people in their teens, 20s, and 30s. If he cannot even keep track of one son, how can he command an army of 500,000?"
Kang explained, "I apologize for falling short of the public's expectations as a ministerial nominee. However, as a father, it is difficult to interfere in every aspect of the financial life of a son who is already 30 years old."
[email protected] Kim Hyung-gu Reporter