(2nd LD) Defense minister nominee says feels heavy responsibility for 2024 martial law bid

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(ATTN: UPDATES with more remarks in paras 7-12)

SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul on Wednesday apologized over the short-lived imposition of martial law in 2024, saying he felt heavy responsibility for the incident that occurred while serving as the deputy commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC).

Kang made the remarks during a parliamentary confirmation hearing, as a ruling party lawmaker said the nominee cannot evade "moral" and "political" accountability for the Dec. 3 martial law imposed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

"I feel heavy accountability and deep responsibility as someone who was at the highest rank," Kang said, adding, "I offer my sincere apologies to the people."

Kang called the martial law declaration the military's undermining of the constitutional order.

The nominee was serving as a four-star Army general at the time of the martial law decree but avoided involvement in it as he worked as the CFC deputy commander.

Kang said he told then U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Ge. Paul LaCamera to have faith in South Korea's legal system as he witnessed the National Assembly passing a motion demanding the lifting of martial law.

Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul attends a parliamentary hearing at the National Assembly on Sept. 16, 2026. (Yonhap)

On Seoul's efforts to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington, Kang said there wouldn't be issues even if it was immediately transferred but stressed the importance of the alliance with the United States.

"It is not wise to fight alone just because you are able to do so," he said. "It is important to transfer OPCON under the solidarity of the South Korea-U.S. alliance where mutual trust is guaranteed."

Seoul is pushing to retake wartime OPCON from Washington before the Lee Jae Myung administration's five-year term ends in 2030.

The nominee also addressed South Korea's possible deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz, saying he understands no decision has yet been made.

"If I become minister, I will make a decision from the perspective of how we can protect the public's safety and national interest," he said.

Seoul has recently been deliberating on whether to deploy military assets to help secure the strait amid U.S. pressure on Seoul to contribute to efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway.

On the government's push to integrate the military academies of the Army, Navy and Air Force, Kang repeatedly stressed that he has the "resolve" to innovate the military academies.

The defense minister nominee, however, said the current blueprint released by the defense ministry has room for improvement, noting he will look into the matter after his appointment.

Kang also came under fire as opposition lawmakers claimed he had falsely registered his residence at a house in Seoul's Guro Ward in 2008 to qualify for a special housing program for a land development project, while he was still serving in Gangwon Province.

"As the nominee for defense minister, I apologize to the public that the issue of real estate came up during my confirmation hearing," he said.

The nominee denied the allegation, saying he was not even aware of the program at the time.

sookim@yna.co.kr (END)

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(2nd LD) Defense minister nominee says feels heavy responsibility for 2024 martial law bid

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（注意：第 7-12 段将进行更新，添加更多说明）

首尔，9月16日（韩联社）——韩国国防部长提名人姜信哲周三就2024年短暂实施戒严令一事道歉，称他在担任韩美联合部队司令部（CFC）副司令期间，对发生的这起事件负有重大责任。

康在国会确认听证会上发表了上述言论。此前，一名执政党议员表示，被提名人无法逃避前总统尹锡悦于 12 月 3 日实施的戒严令所应承担的“道德”和“政治”责任。

康表示：“作为最高级别的官员，我深感责任重大，并向人民致以诚挚的歉意。”

康称戒严令是军方对宪政秩序的破坏。

该被提名人在戒严令颁布时担任陆军四星上将，但由于他担任中国军队副司令，因此避免卷入戒严令。

康表示，他曾告诉时任驻韩美军司令保罗·拉卡梅拉将军，要相信韩国的法律制度，因为他亲眼目睹了国会通过一项要求解除戒严令的动议。

2026年9月16日，国防部长提名人姜新哲出席国会听证会。（韩联社）

关于首尔为从华盛顿手中夺回战时作战控制权（OPCON）所做的努力，康表示，即使立即移交也不会有问题，但他强调了与美国结盟的重要性。

他说：“即使有能力，单打独斗也是不明智的。重要的是在韩美同盟的团结下移交作战指挥权，因为只有这样才能保证互信。”

首尔正努力在李在明政府五年任期于 2030 年结束之前，从华盛顿手中夺回战时作战指挥权。

该提名人还谈到了韩国可能向霍尔木兹海峡部署军队的问题，称据他了解，目前尚未做出任何决定。

他说：“如果我当选部长，我将从如何保护公众安全和国家利益的角度做出决定。”

最近，在美国向首尔施压，要求其为恢复这条战略水道的航行自由做出贡献之际，首尔一直在考虑是否部署军事力量来帮助确保海峡安全。

对于政府推动陆军、海军和空军军事院校一体化的举措，康德龙反复强调他有“决心”对军事院校进行创新。

然而，国防部长提名人表示，国防部目前公布的蓝图还有改进的空间，并指出他将在上任后研究此事。

康某还受到反对派议员的抨击，他们声称康某在2008年虚假登记了首尔九老区的一处房屋居住地，以便获得一项土地开发项目的特殊住房计划的资格，而当时他还在江原道任职。

“作为国防部长提名人，我向公众道歉，因为在我的确认听证会上提到了房地产问题，”他说。

该候选人否认了这一指控，称他当时甚至不知道有这个项目。

sookim@yna.co.kr (完)

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首尔将举办首届中亚峰会，讨论关键矿产和供应链合作等议题。

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特朗普表示，那些“没有提供任何帮助”的国家应该在伊朗战争结束后向美国偿还费用。

与朝鲜核武器和导弹计划有关联的前国防官员去世

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（第二条）国防部长提名人称对2024年戒严令企图负有重大责任