South Korean Defense Minister faces criticism over OPCON and alliance remarks

South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul is facing intense scrutiny from lawmakers and political figures following remarks made during a parliamentary audit regarding the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON).

During the audit, Kang questioned whether South Korea could “really trust the U.S. military” in the event of a war with North Korea while discussing the necessity of transitioning OPCON to South Korean leadership. These comments drew sharp condemnation from the People Power Party (PPP) and former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min, who argued the remarks undermine the 73-year-old alliance and damage national security and troop morale.

Separately, Kang addressed the timeline for the OPCON transfer, stating that Seoul is working closely with Washington to complete the assessment of full operational capability (FOC). The government aims to finalize the timing of the transfer during the upcoming Security Consultative Meeting in December.

In a related parliamentary session, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young also faced criticism from independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon. Han challenged Chung’s characterization of North Korean landmines as defensive weapons, arguing that the placement of mines south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) constitutes an attack, a position supported by findings from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the UN Command.