PPP demands Defense Minister An release military records amid desertion allegations

People Power Party lawmakers and civic groups are intensifying calls for an investigation into allegations that Defense Minister An Gyu-baek went absent without leave during his military service as a defense worker, stepping up pressure on him to resign. A civic group recently filed a police complaint against An, alleging that his testimony at last year's National Assembly confirmation hearing — in which he denied going AWOL during his service — constituted perjury under the law governing testimony and expert opinions before the National Assembly.

According to the Dong-a Ilbo, An rebuffed questions at last year's confirmation hearing about why his service record showed 22 months rather than the standard 14 months for defense workers at the time, saying "there was absolutely nothing of the sort" and describing himself as "a victim of administrative error" in military service records. He ultimately refused to submit his military service record book as demanded by the People Power Party and other opposition parties.

PPP lawmakers have revived the issue, arguing that An must resign if he cannot clear the allegations surrounding his military service.

PPP lawmaker Na Kyung-won wrote on Facebook on Thursday that President Lee Jae-myung should "immediately explain to the public the facts of Minister An Gyu-baek's desertion and his military records." She added that the government should "immediately halt the dismantling of the Korea Military Academy, the hasty merger of military academies, and the wholesale destruction of national security being carried out under a defense minister suspected of desertion."

A National Assembly public petition calling for An's impeachment had surpassed 300,000 signatures as of Thursday — the highest participation on record for an impeachment motion petition targeting a minister-level official since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office.