Calls for the impeachment of Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek are erupting simultaneously from political circles and public petitions, centered around his refusal to disclose his military service records. The People Power Party has gone beyond its initial plan to submit a motion for his dismissal as a party platform, officially announcing that it is now considering an impeachment motion.

People Power Party floor leader Jung Jeom-sik stated at a general meeting of lawmakers on the 13th, "If Minister Ahn persists in refusing to disclose his military service records, we will consider it an admission of the allegations regarding his desertion and confinement in a military brig, and we will have no choice but to consider submitting an impeachment motion."

Floor leader Jung added, "While we had already reached a consensus to submit a motion for dismissal as a party platform due to the hasty implementation of key defense policies, the refusal to disclose military service records is a different matter entirely, as it involves covering up the truth and deceiving the public."

People Power Party representative Jang Dong-hyuk also addressed the issue on the same day, noting that more than 300,000 people have participated in the petition for Minister Ahn's impeachment, asserting, "If he cannot disclose his military service records, it is a confession that he has something to hide."

Outside-parliament district party chairs of the People Power Party also held a press conference at the National Assembly, calling for the disclosure of the service records and the immediate resignation of Minister Ahn.

Previously, the People Power Party had intensified its pressure for impeachment through a series of official commentaries on the 11th and 12th.

Chief Spokesperson Park Sung-hoon announced that the number of participants in the petition for Minister Ahn’s impeachment had surpassed 310,000 and demanded the disclosure of the records. Chief Spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon stated, "If there is neither a resolution of these suspicions nor a voluntary resignation, the National Assembly will immediately proceed with impeachment."

As of the morning of the 12th, the petition calling for Minister Ahn's impeachment on the National Assembly's public petition portal had garnered 317,019 signatures.

The petition, which began on the 18th of last month, initially cited Minister Ahn's defense policies—such as the dissolution and functional dispersion of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, the response to the death of a reservist, and the consolidation of military academies—as well as his responsibility for the safety of service members as the primary reasons for the request.

Since then, as the controversy surrounding his service record during his time as a defense reservist has been reignited, the demands for impeachment have become linked to these military service allegations.

The core of the controversy lies in why Minister Ahn's service record lists 22 months, which is eight months longer than the typical service period for a defense reservist.

Kim Young-soo, head of the Center for Public Interest Reporting for an Integrity Society, alleged that Minister Ahn was absent without leave (AWOL) for approximately seven months during his service, was apprehended by military investigative authorities, and served an additional term after being detained for 30 days.

The People Power Party is demanding the disclosure of the original military records, stating that if these claims are true, they contradict the explanations given during last year’s confirmation hearings. These allegations are currently claims made by Mr. Kim's side and have not yet been subject to judgment by investigative agencies or the courts.

The Ministry of National Defense denied the allegations again during a regular briefing on the 13th. Spokesperson Jung Bit-na stated, "The date of his discharge in January 1985, as well as the dates of his re-induction and subsequent discharge in the same year, are all recorded in the detailed files," asserting that Minister Ahn completed his service normally. The Ministry of National Defense further explained that Minister Ahn’s return to university for the first semester of 1985 is also confirmed by his academic transcripts.

The Ministry explained that some service days were excluded due to an investigation into Minister Ahn's mother providing free lunches to soldiers at his unit, and that this led to his extended service until August of that same year.

However, the Ministry of National Defense is refusing to disclose the original military records, stating, "Disclosing incorrect records could lead to further misunderstandings." They also stated that any corrections to the records would only be pursued after Minister Ahn leaves public office.

As the Ministry of National Defense continues to insist that "all detailed records exist" while simultaneously refusing to make them public, the controversy appears to be escalating.

The issue is now narrowing down from what Minister Ahn did or where he was 40 years ago to the question of why a sitting Defense Minister in command of the armed forces cannot present his own military records to the public and the National Assembly to verify his service history.