-Kang Shin-chul's Concession on "North Korean Landmines": Why Stay Silent Until Now?
-Proper Inspection Last Year Would Have Prevented Casualties
-Jang's Baengnyeongdo Visit Appropriate, but Defense Committee Ranking Member Should Have Remained
-Time to Focus on Parliamentary Audit; Outdoor Rallies Must Be Approached with Caution
-Floor Leadership Hesitant, Party Organization Proposes One-Day Event
-Impeaching Lee Is Unrealistic; Unable to Even Muster 100 Lawmakers for Motion
-Advice for Lee? Do Not Get Trapped in Factional Warfare
-Catering Only to Core Base Leads to Biased, Narrow Governance
 
■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5 MHz 7:00 – 9:00 AM)
■ Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
■ Host: Attorney Kim Tae-hyun
■ Guest: Kim Sung-tae, Former Lawmaker of the People Power Party
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Who and what made him angry today? It is time for Wednesday's "Angry Sung-tae," former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Sung-tae. Welcome.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Hello, I am Kim Sung-tae.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Lawmaker, I suspect today's anger is about that incident: the DMZ explosion.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Of course.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Right?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Even before that, how upset the South Korean public must have been overnight upon hearing strange news from Trump. Or waking up this morning to see such headlines. It is about nothing other than Trump virtually granting North Korea the complete status of a nuclear weapons state during an interview with American journalists. Attacking former President Joe Biden by placing the blame for North Korea's nuclear development on him, Trump said Biden failed to stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. But what am I supposed to do? As it stands, Kim Jong-un is my friend, a good friend. Kim Jong-un likes me, too. And he has nuclear capabilities. He possesses a very substantial nuclear arsenal. Not as much as the United States, but he possesses nuclear capabilities. That is what he said.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So the U.S. President effectively acknowledged it as a nuclear weapons state?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Exactly. Under these circumstances, it has now come to light that North Korean landmines were planted within the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) and the MDL (Military Demarcation Line), specifically within our southern 2 km zone, nine days ago. Yesterday, during a questioning session on pending issues at the National Assembly National Defense Committee, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul finally gave an answer in response to persistent questioning from opposition lawmakers, including Representative Sung Il-jong.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] He stated it was a violation of the Armistice Agreement.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] If he was going to say that anyway, why did they stay silent until now? Especially during the Chuseok holiday, when so many citizens were worrying about our service members—including a field-grade officer—who suffered such severe, grave injuries. How anxious about national security must the public have been while spending Chuseok? As Minister Kang also mentioned, unless North Korean troops laid them, it could not have happened. They were not our mines. Our landmines are M14s and M16s.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] I also served in the military on the eastern front in Gangwon Province, and when you are deployed on frontline duty, you must accurately distinguish friendly mines from enemy mines. That is basic training. And once a mine is buried, they bury others all around the area. Why? So that anyone coming to rescue the soldier who stepped on a mine will step on one too.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Right.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] It is like when wild ginseng diggers find a root in the mountains; they call it "family ginseng," meaning when one root is found, more are nearby. What was the South Korean military doing until such a hazardous situation arose? And despite such planting activity occurring and our troops being injured, they kept their mouths shut for eight days. Then, only after President Lee Jae-myung returned home from his UN General Assembly address and made a remark yesterday did the Defense Minister finally say it last night.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So you mean it was too late—what were they doing during the Chuseok holiday, and why the sluggish response?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Exactly.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Then why do you think they did that? Opposition lawmakers, including Representative Cheon Ha-ram yesterday, seemed to ask similar questions: Do you believe the military deliberately stalled because they did not want to reveal it was North Korea's doing out of fear it might disrupt the President's UN General Assembly address?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] To a certain degree, I do not believe they made baseless claims while hiding behind parliamentary immunity.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] For now, the President has urged people not to raise groundless conspiracy theories.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] If they dismiss that as a groundless conspiracy theory, then what about our troops serving along the barbed wire fence for the sake of the people? There were suspicions from the start that North Korean landmines were planted on our land, dating back to last year. Last year, the UN Military Armistice Commission noted something unusual there.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] I heard they spotted it via satellite.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] They said they saw it on satellite, so they asked our Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct a thorough inspection, and orders were given to the 25th Division.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] But the division commander did not do it, right?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] That fellow, who is currently placed on standby relieved of duty as the 1st Corps commander, was worried about what would happen if an accident occurred while serving as division commander. He was the one who ordered troops to stand guard with empty rifles. If he had only carried out proper inspections and taken action back then, would such senseless casualties have occurred? Facing such a situation, how can anyone make such complacent remarks?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] The military also says they could not enter hastily due to safety concerns.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Fine. Then if a war broke out and our troops were completely pinned down by landmines planted by the enemy, with two already severely wounded and others suffering casualties, were they supposed to just wait in that state?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] In any case, regarding why you think the military acted so slowly...
 
[Kim Sung-tae] First, regarding the issues raised by opposition lawmakers: number one, they were conscious of President Lee Jae-myung's address to the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly. That is why an actual investigation took seven days—or rather, six days—to take place. The UN told our military to investigate quickly, but we were the ones stalling. And why? Because President Lee Jae-myung was going to speak about peace on the Korean Peninsula at the UN General Assembly—he mentioned the three-stage plan, right? He was going to talk about such things, yet even now, mines planted by North Korea are blowing up, and South Korea is facing such a serious situation. Then what he was saying would not add up; it would not make sense front to back.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. But what about this? Turning our attention to the opposition party: yesterday, Leader Jang Dong-hyeok visited Baengnyeongdo Island. There was some trouble from North Korea there recently, was there not? While visiting Baengnyeongdo because of that trouble is fine, the problem is that he went right when the National Assembly was holding its questioning session on the landmine explosion.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] That is right.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] He took two National Defense Committee members with him, along with the party's chief expert commissioner on national defense. And because of this visit to Baengnyeongdo, yesterday's Assembly session was delayed until 3:00 PM. An editorial in the Chosun Ilbo this morning was very critical of Leader Jang Dong-hyeok's actions.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Well, he could go. From a party leader's standpoint, when our military faces such a grave situation—to put it simply, when an incident exposing massive security loopholes occurs—going to Baengnyeongdo, the most dangerous frontline outpost, to encourage and comfort our troops in order to sound the alarm for the ruling administration and the military is a very good thing to do.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] However, he should have also recognized that parliamentary activity as a representative body to uncover the substantive truth behind the 25th Division's MDL mine-laying and explosion incident in the National Defense Committee is extremely important. Therefore, if nothing else, the Defense Committee's ranking member at least should have held that post. They should have guarded their seats in the standing committee and not given Democratic Party lawmakers an excuse, especially after our opposition party had been clamoring to hold this parliamentary inquiry in the first place.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Because from the opposition's perspective, even starting at 10:00 AM might not have been enough time, yet it was pushed back to 3:00 PM because of this event.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Exactly, because of him.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Because of himself.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Exactly. It would have been enough for the policy committee chair and a party defense expert to accompany him. The People Power Party lawmakers on the National Assembly Defense Committee should have been confronting the Ministry of National Defense during the questioning. Furthermore, when Minister Kang Shin-chul visited the 25th Division dressed in a sharp suit despite such a grave emergency, the public questioned his qualifications, competence, and capability as minister. That was the time to hold the minister accountable and make sure he answered properly.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] But there is another point the media is making: Of course, Baengnyeongdo recently had issues with suspected North Korean aircraft crossing over, causing fishing boats to evacuate. But right now, the landmine explosion is the biggest issue. Why out of nowhere did he go to Baengnyeongdo instead of the military unit in Paju where the accident actually occurred, especially at this timing?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] I do not really understand that either. The frontline divisions stretch from Paju...
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Right, he should have gone to where the incident happened.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] ...connecting through the 1st Division, 25th Division, and so on. Paju is quite accessible and very close. Leaving from the National Assembly, you can get there in less than an hour. I do not quite get it either. Going to Baengnyeongdo takes a considerable amount of time. Perhaps it was because back in 1999 during the Battle of Yeonpyeong, our military responded very well—the Navy repelled North Korea through a massive counteraction. So maybe Leader Jang Dong-hyeok wanted to point to that military feat and say, "This is how our military should respond." That is how I see it.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] There are reports today saying they plan to hold an outdoor protest on October 3, National Foundation Day, in downtown Seoul. Some within the party seem to be...
 
[Kim Sung-tae] I believe that has not been completely finalized yet.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Really?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Yesterday, I asked an acquaintance in the party leadership about it and offered my personal opinion.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Are they on the opposite side from you?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] The parliamentary audit is the highlight of the annual regular session of the National Assembly starting in September. This audit is the opposition's time. Given the current political landscape where the ruling party holds a majority over the opposition, the opposition must concentrate all its firepower to see key issues and pending matters through to the end. That requires grim determination and resolve. From that perspective, there is no need to hand over excuses. We should create conditions and an atmosphere where all our opposition supporters can focus on the parliamentary audit. While public grievance and anger are certainly real right now, taking that to outdoor rallies is an approach that requires prudent review.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] And what did they say?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] The floor leadership, centered around Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik, takes a rather passive stance on outdoor rallies, while others in the party suggest holding an outdoor rally for just one day to rally our base and strengthen security awareness at a time like this. They have not reached a conclusion yet. That is where things stand.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] It feels like they will end up doing it anyway. Just my hunch, but wouldn't they be beating drums in Gwanghwamun on National Foundation Day?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] That is completely unrelated.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] What if talk about voting rights or rigged elections comes up there again?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] They must not do that.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Is that so?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] That is separate. This rally is supposed to urge awareness and demand that the President—who as commander-in-chief must protect the state, the government, and the people—show genuine outrage over our troops being injured. It should not be about that other stuff.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So you mean they will not do that? Or that they should not do that—they should not beat drums and bring up voting rights?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Exactly.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] But are you certain they actually will not?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] If they did, it would dilute the message, so those around Leader Jang Dong-hyeok would never recommend it. If Leader Jang lacked that level of judgment, that would indeed be a problem.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] I see. But right now, talk of impeaching the President is also coming from Leader Jang Dong-hyeok.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Well, the President spoke in his UN General Assembly address about easing inter-Korean tensions and proposed a three-stage solution to the North Korean nuclear issue. Such measures are about peacebuilding—creating peace together. Peace is not merely the absence of war or a temporary truce; it is a dynamic process where both sides actively build peace by resolving the root causes of conflict. Here, a couple of essential conditions are required. To truly prevent war and achieve genuine peace, the first key condition is deterrence and a balance of power. Put simply, if North Korea possesses nuclear weapons and completely pins down the South with them, true inter-Korean peace will never be achieved. That is why, while deterring the other side's will to provoke, we must solidify alliances—particularly the South Korea–U.S. alliance—and maintain multilateral security. Right now, our government is questionable in this regard.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Second, diplomatically: Is there a 24/7 hotline with the United States running smoothly? Is cooperation with the UN Security Council functioning well? Looking at this, some view our foreign policy and national security as being riddled with holes. From where I stand, the opposition should dig into this during the upcoming parliamentary audit...
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Dig into it?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Absolutely. Protecting the lives and property of the people is the President's foremost duty.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So you mean now is not the time to talk about unrealistic impeachment.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] If we start talking about the Olympic Park issue or other topics right now, focus will be scattered. How will public safety, lives, and security be protected following the abolition of supplementary investigative authority? How will the criminal justice system operate? The Prosecution Agency is being launched, but they cannot even carry out personnel appointments. How anxious must the public feel? These are the kinds of issues that should be seized upon.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So you are saying, do not needlessly talk about an unfeasible impeachment.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Under the current political reality where the ruling party holds a majority...
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] With 107 seats right now, they cannot do it. They cannot even introduce a motion.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Whether introducing it is possible or not, I think even gathering 100 lawmakers is not easy. You need one-third of the Assembly just to introduce it.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] And passing an impeachment motion requires the consent of two-thirds. No matter how much political resolve and determination we proclaim, realistically it is simply not practical.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. The President's approval ratings are not very good right now; they dropped significantly after the local elections. If you had the opportunity to meet the President, what advice would you most want to give him as a political senior?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] That is actually what I wanted to talk about. Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun said something just yesterday or the day before.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] On social media?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Yes. "Stop retweeting." And if I just say the letter "Ah," you know what I mean, right?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] "Ah"?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Yes.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] I do not know.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] You do not know?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] No, I am not that quick-witted.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Retweeting like that... The President should be at the center of the entire nation. If he stays up late discussing major national policies or issues and communicating with relevant ministries or heads of vocational, social, and professional organizations, that would be understandable. But placing himself at the very center of his factional fight and directing it is deeply inappropriate. That is essentially what Kim Eo-jun pointed out.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So you are saying he should step away from factional battles?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] He must step away. That is how he can become a president for all the people. In factional battles at 1:00 or 2:00 AM, can the President properly see state affairs? He cannot. Knowing that, he should not get so absorbed in it. If state governance caters only to Democratic Party supporters in a biased and narrow-minded way, national unity and the future of South Korea's diplomacy and security will drift far away. President Lee Jae-myung must make that resolution and decision.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] In other words, rather than becoming a victor in factional fights among hardline Democratic Party supporters, he should make his mark by fostering a centrist pragmatic government as a true president looking out for the people.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] You mean he should prove himself through policy and practical outcomes?
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Exactly. Leading internal Democratic Party fights directly, like at the August 17 national convention—fine, he made Kim Min-seok the party leader, but what can Party Leader Kim Min-seok even do? He cannot do anything.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. We will wrap it up here today. We have been speaking with Kim Sung-tae, former lawmaker of the People Power Party. Thank you.
 
[Kim Sung-tae] Thank you.

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