Han Ki-ho Responds to Ahn Gyu-back's Remark: "I Suddenly Have to Adopt a Minister's Son"

People Power Party Representative Han Ki-ho responded today (August 21) to Minister Ahn Gyu-back's denial of past desertion allegations, in which Ahn stated, "If I deserted, I am Han Ki-ho's son," by saying, "I suddenly find myself adopting the minister's son."

Writing on Facebook today, he stated, "I have not the slightest intention of adopting anyone, but since he insists on being adopted, I suppose I must accept it."

Previously, during a full meeting of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee yesterday, when the desertion allegations were raised, Minister Ahn stated, "With a clear conscience before heaven, I have not a single point of shame. This is entirely contrary to the facts," adding, "If there were any such thing as me deserting, I am Representative Han Ki-ho's son."

This remark targeted Representative Han, who had initially raised the allegations.

In response, Representative Han pointed out, "At that time, there was no such thing as 'desertion' for defense conscripts. They checked in by commuting from home every day, and if they did not show up, the official term was 'missing,' so the word 'desertion' does not apply."

He then questioned, "Why is '30 days of detention' recorded on the military service card? Was it because he was 'missing'?" He added, "His military discharge date was January 14, 1985, but his military service record card lists August 31, 1985. Is this not because he had to serve additional time due to being missing?"

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.