LIG Defense and Aerospace (LIG D&A) has firmly stated that it is "clearly unrelated" to the bribery allegations involving its employees in connection with a 2 trillion won electronic systems development project.
On August 21, LIG D&A explained that "the public official involved did not participate as an evaluator in the assessment of this electronic systems project" and expressed regret over the indictment of its employees, emphasizing that the electronic systems project was selected through a fair evaluation process with a significant score difference.
The company further asserted that claims suggesting the public official's involvement in related projects are unfounded and unrelated to the core technological elements of the electronic systems development. They described the project as a highly complex national task that significantly enhances the survival capabilities of the Republic of Korea Air Force, urging against undermining the dedication and efforts required to complete advanced military capabilities.
LIG D&A also expressed hope that legal proceedings will clarify the facts and resolve the allegations, stating that they will actively cooperate if necessary. The company committed to strengthening its advanced defense R&D capabilities while working towards establishing a transparent and fair compliance system that meets public expectations.
Meanwhile, the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office has recently indicted a level 5 public official from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on charges of bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, along with an executive from LIG D&A on bribery charges.
According to prosecutors, the DAPA official is accused of participating as an evaluator for six defense project proposals worth a total of 91.5 billion won from late 2021 to late last year, allegedly giving favorable scores to LIG D&A. It is believed that the official received 320 million won and a recommendation for a subcontractor service contract worth 2.2 billion won in return.
Notably, among the six projects suspected of receiving preferential treatment, three are known to be core technologies for the 1.7 trillion won 'Korean Electronic Systems R&D Project' that LIG D&A secured in December of last year, placing them at the center of the controversy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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