Drinking, Singing, and Even Flights Canceled: Ordered by Air Force Chief of Staff

[Anchor]

SBS recently reported exclusively that Air Force pilots held drinking sessions hosted by generals and even canceled flights scheduled for the following day. Our reporting has now confirmed that the person who ordered pilots to drink and cancel their flights at these gatherings—held across all Air Force wings—was none other than Air Force Chief of Staff Son Seok-rak. General Son apologized, bowing his head and stating that he was deeply sorry for causing public concern.

Defense specialist reporter Kim Tae-hoon reports exclusively.

[Reporter]

Starting with an accidental bombing by a fighter jet in March of last year, a series of aircraft mishaps—including dropped fuel tanks, takeoff failures, and midair collisions—brought pilot discipline under heavy scrutiny.

The method Air Force Headquarters chose to boost pilot morale was drinking and singing.

In April and May, Air Force leadership toured all 13 wings to hold town hall-style meetings, and Air Force Chief of Staff Son Seok-rak personally hosted the sessions at six of those wings.

An active-duty pilot who attended a gathering hosted by the Chief of Staff told SBS, "When the Chief of Staff offered drinks, saying, 'You don't have to fly tomorrow, right?' the pilots cheered and drank."

Another pilot said, "Rumors quickly spread that flight missions were being canceled after drinking, so pilots drank freely at every wing gathering."

In response to SBS's inquiry for confirmation, Air Force Headquarters admitted that flight missions had indeed been canceled following drinking at the gatherings under the Chief of Staff's orders.

Air Force Headquarters explained, "Of the six wing gatherings hosted by the Chief of Staff, flight missions were canceled after drinking on three occasions, while another mission was canceled the following day due to weather conditions."

In a statement sent to SBS, Chief of Staff Son stated, "I ordered flight training canceled out of a desire to encourage the pilots and allow them to take part in the gatherings comfortably without flight stress, even for just one day," adding, "I feel deeply apologetic for causing public concern over this matter."

(Video by Kim Hyun-sang | Video Editing by Jung Sung-hoon | Graphics by Jeon Yu-geun)

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[Anchor]

Reporter Kim, while this controversy involves a major lapse in military discipline, other service members must have felt a strong sense of deprivation given that the head of the Air Force held drinking parties exclusively for elite pilots. What was the internal atmosphere like?

Q. What are the complaints from service members in other Air Force branches?

[Defense Specialist Reporter Kim Tae-hoon: All this time, when pilots caused accidents, personnel in maintenance and administrative branches struggled to clean up the aftermath. Yet these so-called drinking-and-singing gatherings were held exclusively for pilots across the 13 wings. Many complaints of feeling alienated are emerging from personnel in other branches, such as armament, maintenance, and supply. In the Air Force, pilots have traditionally monopolized top posts like Chief of Staff and commanders, fostering a strong elitist mentality. This drinking-and-singing gathering clearly exposed the harms of this pilot-first mindset.]

Q. Why are helicopter pilots and mechanics so dissatisfied?

[Defense Specialist Reporter Kim Tae-hoon: In some cases, the Chief of Staff traveled back and forth by helicopter from Gyeryongdae in South Chungcheong Province to the wings where the gatherings were held. The Air Force helicopter unit is based in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. After dropping the Chief of Staff off at Gyeryongdae following the gatherings, they had to return to their base in Cheongju, complete post-flight procedures, and carry out maintenance, which reportedly took until midnight. Having to work late into the night just so fighter pilots could drink inevitably left helicopter pilots and mechanics feeling a deep sense of deprivation.

Q. Will Chief of Staff Son Seok-rak face an intensive audit by the Defense Ministry?

[Defense Specialist Reporter Kim Tae-hoon: That is unavoidable, as the head of the Air Force effectively told pilots to drink today and not fly tomorrow. Even from within the Air Force, criticism has emerged that combat readiness was traded for alcohol. I have covered the military for a long time, but this is the first time I have seen such a breakdown in military discipline. Furthermore, using military band personnel like a nightclub band for pilots' drinking and entertainment is also expected to draw stern disciplinary action from the Defense Ministry.

(Video by Kim Hyun-sang | Video Editing by Jeon Min-gyu)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.