Ahn cites ongoing investigation, limits answers at budget committee

Defense Ministry says minister's position unchanged

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back [Yonhap]
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back [Yonhap]

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Monday that he could not address allegations he had been confined to a military detention facility, citing an ongoing investigation.

Ahn made the remarks at the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee review of non-economic ministries, where independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon asked whether he had ever been sent to a military detention facility for any reason.

When Han said the minister's evasive answer would lead the public to conclude that the detention itself was a fact, Ahn replied, "I expect that will soon be revealed."

Earlier, a Defense Ministry official said, in connection with allegations of Ahn's unauthorized absence from military duty, that the ministry planned to "file a correction request and take additional measures regarding errors in the military service record when the assigned work is completed and he returns to private life."

Defense Ministry Spokesperson Jeong Bit-na, at a regular briefing Monday, said she would let the minister's existing position stand as the ministry's answer to related questions.

She added that Ahn, as the country's first civilian defense minister, "has been pushing forward various defense reform tasks and will fulfill his duties until his last day in office."


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