Police launch probe into Defense Minister Ahn's alleged false testimony over desertion claims

Police have opened a formal investigation into allegations that Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek gave false testimony at his National Assembly confirmation hearing over claims he went absent without leave during his military service.

The Yongsan Police Station in Seoul plans to question Kim Young-su, director of the Korea Defense Rights Research Institute, on Thursday as the complainant in the case, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Kim filed a complaint with police against Ahn on June 27, alleging violations of the Act on Testimony and Appraisal Before the National Assembly.

Kim claims that Ahn went absent without leave for about seven months from a unit under the Army's 35th Division in 1984 while serving as a defense conscript. He was subsequently arrested by military police and served an additional roughly eight months — including 30 days of detention and the period of absence — before being discharged in August 1985.

Kim's side argues that despite these details appearing in Ahn's military service records, the minister testified at his confirmation hearing last July that he had never gone absent without leave and had never been detained, making his answers false.

Police are expected to use the complainant interview to establish the circumstances of the filing, then examine the military service records and confirmation hearing testimony to determine the facts.

In political circles, calls have grown — led by the opposition — for Ahn to release his military service records and address the allegations. Some lawmakers have said President Lee Jae-myung should personally clarify or take action on the matter.