[Anchor]
We previously reported that an Air Force wing held a drinking gathering, even mobilizing soldiers from a military band, which disrupted flight operations the following day. It has now been confirmed that such drinking gatherings were held across all Air Force wings. Viewing the matter as grave, the Ministry of National Defense has launched an audit.
Senior defense reporter Kim Tae-hoon reports.
[Reporter]
Officers in flight suits jump up and down and shout with both hands raised.
Standing in the center are a three-star lieutenant general, commander of the Air Education and Training Command, and a one-star brigadier general, the wing commander.
This is video footage of a "communication gathering" held for about three hours starting at 5 p.m. on April 29 at the cafeteria of the Air Force's 3rd Flying Training Wing in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province.
Viewing the revelations from the SBS report as a grave matter, the Ministry of National Defense immediately launched an investigation to verify the facts.
[Jeong Bit-na / Spokesperson, Ministry of National Defense: "We perceive this as a very grave matter. The Minister of National Defense has instructed the Office of the Inspector General to strictly verify the facts."]
The Air Force stated that such drinking gatherings—where military band soldiers were mobilized and alcohol was served in abundance—were held across all Air Force wings during the first half of this year.
The Defense Ministry's Office of the Inspector General plans to closely examine whether regulations regarding mobilizing military band soldiers for unit events were observed and to what extent the drinking encroached upon regular duty hours.
It is also reported that the ministry will investigate whether there were additional cases of canceled flights due to the aftermath of drinking at the gatherings, beyond the wing in question.
The "communication gatherings" were organized by Air Force Headquarters to boost the morale of service members following a series of aircraft accidents.
While the frequent aircraft accidents stemmed from widespread lax discipline across the Air Force, Air Force Headquarters effectively fueled further indiscipline by hosting drinking gatherings under the pretext of boosting morale.
With the Air Force yet to express any regret, the Ministry of National Defense has launched an audit into Air Force Headquarters, the Air Education and Training Command, and the 3rd Flying Training Wing, among others.
(Video by Kim Hyun-sang | Video editing by Choi Jin-hwa)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.