Ahn Kyu-baek faces legal complaint over DMZ landmine explosion

Former Seoul City Councilor Lee Jong-bae is filing a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against Ahn Kyu-baek, the former Minister of National Defense, for occupational negligence resulting in injury and dereliction of duty. The legal action follows a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on September 21, which injured three officers from the Army's 25th Division during a reconnaissance mission.

Investigations by the Joint Chiefs of Staff concluded that the explosion was caused by plastic anti-personnel mines planted by North Korean forces south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The incident has highlighted broader security concerns, as internal military audits revealed instances of ‘empty gun guarding’—a failure to follow protocols requiring loaded magazines—across several army corps, including the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Corps.

Critics argue that the military's failure to maintain strict guarding principles and the presence of North Korean mines south of the MDL indicate significant lapses in border security and command oversight.