Progressive Party Joins Rebuilding Korea Party in Opposing Expansion of Cheonghae Unit Operations: “Wi Sung-lac Must Be Dismissed”

[Financial News] As the government moves to expand the Cheonghae Unit’s area of operations and dispatch additional assets, the Progressive Party, following the Rebuilding Korea Party, has also called the move a “backdoor troop deployment” and urged the government to withdraw it. The Progressive Party has even called for the dismissal of National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac, as opposition within the broader ruling camp to the government’s military response appears to be growing.
In a statement on the 5th, the Progressive Party said, “The government has decided to expand the Cheonghae Unit’s area of operations and dispatch additional assets, including maritime patrol aircraft and an explosive ordnance disposal team.” It criticized the plan as “a dangerous provocation aimed at pushing through what is in effect a backdoor troop deployment to a conflict zone overseas, under the flimsy pretext of changing the existing unit’s area of operations.”
Citing the principles set out in Article 5 of the Constitution—maintaining international peace and renouncing wars of aggression—the Progressive Party said, “Pushing young service members into a powder keg of conflict under the fine-sounding labels of expanding the operational area or changing the mission would be a reckless act that directly repudiates the spirit of the Constitution.”
Targeting Director Wi in particular, the party said, “Director Wi, who oversees the diplomatic and security apparatus, has stoked support for this backdoor troop deployment and put South Korea’s peace at serious risk.” It urged him to step down immediately, saying, “Director Wi has already forfeited his qualifications as the security official responsible for safeguarding constitutional values and must take responsibility for all this turmoil and the security crisis.”
The previous day, Kim Jun-hyung, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, also held a press conference to express opposition to expanding the Cheonghae Unit’s area of operations. Speaking to reporters after the press conference, Kim questioned the government’s plan to expand the area on the grounds of increased pirate activity. “They say the unit won’t go as far as the Strait of Hormuz, but I think going beyond its current area of operations would be a new operation, not an expansion,” he said.
Kim also opposed the government’s submission of a motion seeking approval to extend the deployment. “I think the motion should not be submitted at all,” he said. “If it is submitted, not only we in the Rebuilding Korea Party but also the Democratic Party should oppose it.” Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker Park Eun-jung also opposed the expansion, describing it as an act tantamount to troop deployment.
With parties in the broader ruling camp successively voicing opposition to the government’s plan to expand the Cheonghae Unit’s operations, the controversy is expected to continue during the National Assembly’s review of the motion to extend the deployment.

[email protected] Jiwon Song Reporter