Defense University Professor Under Investigation for Political Activities: Supporting Lee Jae-myung and Alleged Threats

A professor at the Korea National Defense University (KNDU), a military university under the Ministry of National Defense, is under internal investigation for allegedly attending events organized by Lee Jae-myung’s presidential campaign without prior approval and publishing books supporting the former Democratic Party leader. This has raised serious concerns about political neutrality and ethical conduct within the institution. 🧐

Key Points of the Allegations

• Unauthorized Participation: The professor, identified as Professor A, reportedly attended a foreign affairs and security forum at the National Assembly on May 10, despite KNDU’s disapproval. The event was organized by Democratic Party members and groups supporting Lee Jae-myung. 🏛️
• Misleading Information: Professor A allegedly misrepresented the nature of the event to the university, describing it as a “National Assembly-sponsored event.” Previously, the professor had also attended a Democratic Party policy debate by falsely claiming it was an event organized by the National Assembly Research Service. 🤥
• Book Publications: Without university approval, Professor A co-authored books supporting Lee Jae-myung, raising questions about potential bias and violation of regulations against political activities for KNDU faculty. 📚
• Alleged Threats and Abusive Language: During the investigation, Professor A is accused of making threatening remarks to university staff involved in the inquiry, suggesting retaliation if the political landscape changes. 😡

Detailed Account of the Controversy

The KNDU’s internal audit office launched an investigation into Professor A following reports of unauthorized external activities. It was found that Professor A attended a Democratic Party-organized event on May 10, despite the university explicitly denying permission. The professor had described the event as “hosted by the National Assembly,” but the university discovered that the necessary documentation was not provided. 📝

In another instance, Professor A attended a Democratic Party policy debate, falsely claiming it was a National Assembly Research Service event. As a tenured professor at KNDU, Professor A is prohibited from joining political parties and engaging in external activities without prior approval. 🚫

Further, Professor A co-authored a book supporting Lee Jae-myung, published on May 14, without seeking permission from the university. In 2022, during the presidential election, Professor A had also published two books about Lee Jae-myung, again without KNDU’s approval. Kim Yun-tae, former head of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), who co-authored a book with Professor A in 2021, was indicted in January for allegedly assisting Lee Jae-myung’s election campaign while still in office. 😮

Professor A has also been known to publicly advocate for the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol through media interviews and statements. 🗣️

The university issued a notice on April 27, stating that Professor A had violated service regulations by participating in unauthorized external activities. University officials reported that Professor A responded to the investigation with abusive language and threats. According to recorded transcripts, Professor A allegedly told one staff member, “It will be disadvantageous if you side with them,” and “You will not be safe.” To an audit officer, Professor A reportedly said, “I will get the data through the National Assembly,” implying undue pressure through Democratic Party lawmakers. 😠

In response to these allegations, Professor A claimed that the activities were personal and that there had been pressure from superiors not to attend Democratic Party events. Regarding the abusive language allegations, Professor A stated that the situation arose from a dispute with a staff member who was not following work protocols. 🤔

Internal Reactions and Broader Implications

Inside KNDU, there is growing concern about Professor A’s political activities. Critics argue that a professor’s overt political involvement in a military institution is unacceptable and demands a thorough investigation. There are also calls for an audit of the alleged abusive conduct towards university staff. 😟

The situation is rare, as security institutions in other countries generally discourage political activities by faculty to maintain neutrality. For instance, West Point prohibits partisan activities to ensure educational objectivity. 🌐

This case underscores the critical need for stringent regulations and oversight to prevent political bias within military education institutions. ⚖️