Violations of public institution law confirmed
Appointed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol in April 2024
The Ministry of National Defense has dismissed Lee Geon-wan, director of the Agency for Defense Development, it was confirmed Friday.
A Defense Ministry official said Friday that an inspection by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration found Lee had violated the Act on the Management of Public Institutions and other relevant laws, and that the ministry had proceeded with the necessary steps, including recommending his dismissal in accordance with those statutes.
Lee had been under investigation over personal misconduct allegations.
The Act on the Management of Public Institutions stipulates that when an agency head is found to have violated laws or articles of incorporation, neglected duties, or otherwise significantly impaired the performance of their role, the board of directors may, through a board resolution, request the head of the supervising authority to dismiss or recommend the dismissal of that agency head.
ADD, a government-funded research institute under DAPA, has the defense minister serving as chairman of its board of directors and the DAPA chief as vice chairman.
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol appointed Lee in April 2024, and Lee took office as ADD director the following month.
The dismissal has drawn attention given that the ADD under Lee's leadership supplied the drones that flew toward Pyongyang and crashed in 2024 — an incident that significantly heightened inter-Korean tensions at the time.
Lee is a retired Air Force lieutenant general and a graduate of the Korea Air Force Academy's 32nd class, having previously served as Air Force Operations Commander, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and superintendent of the Korea Air Force Academy.
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