[Editorial] Exit Of A General- From "The Korean Herald"

"Upon retiring from his 40-year military service, former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Lee Sang-eui expressed concerns about the way the principle of civilian control of the military is practiced in this country.

In a change of command ceremony Monday, Lee remarked: “When civilian control is not practiced properly, the morale of the armed forces declines and their green uniforms turn gray.”

He further opined that as much as the military is barred from intervening in politics, the military should be protected against influences from “outside logic.”

We feel sorry that the general, who reached the pinnacle of the uniformed career in October 2009, had to cut short his service after nine months because of the tragic sinking of the Navy patrol craft Cheonan in March. He resigned after the Board of Audit and Inspection announced the result of its month-long inquiry into the Cheonan incident, which exposed a number of shortcomings in the military operational system and structures.

The BAI report described Lee as a top commander who was drunk on the night of the incident, who was kept uninformed of the naval incident for 52 minutes, and who failed to stay in his command/control position through the night of the emergency. He complained that he and his subordinates were not given opportunities to explain the “one-sided findings by a group of non-experts in military affairs.”"
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This story is, at first blush seems funny, even though the generals behavior was idiotic, dangerous and just plain unacceptable. We have to remind ourselves that 46 people died in this incident, which occurred, on his watch.

The general did not seem to understand that his behavior was inappropriate.  His response was totally detached from reality.  This was "The Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff" in South Korea, akin to the top military general at America's Pentagon.  This South korean general was the chief military officer for an American ally, in a country where a large number of American troops are based and which technically remains in a state of war with North Korea.  This is the sobering reality of this otherwise humorous revelation.

Alcohol abuse is a serious problem in South Korean society. It is tolerated and even encouraged. Drinking with co-workers and friends is seen  not just as pleasure but as a social and professional responsibility.  People who refrain from drinking are often shunned by society.  I saw this often during the more than two years I lived and worked in this country.  When people, with the power of life and death under their control, engage in alcohol abuse, alcohol abuse becomes not simply funny.  It becomes deadly.

The United States and South Korean are presently engaged in discussions concerning an extension of current United States control over South Korea's wartime military command, beyond the previously agreed upon 2012 transfer deadline.  This incident further complicates these discussions.  Obviously South Korea needs to review its military command structure before such a transfer occurs. All top military leaders must be screened for alcohol and drug abuse issues and those who are found to have such problems should be summarily removed for their positions.

Every country has the right to take command of its own self defense.  South Korea is no exception. However, permitting its top general to hold a position of authority, even though he abuses alcohol, indicates that South Korea's military may not ready for that responsibility.  It is time for the South Korean military to clean house and standup on it own two feet.  America cannot afford to keep its troops in south Korea forever.

John H. Armwood