Kim Byeong-joo, a member of the Democratic Party, has come under fire for filming inside the Gyeryongdae Army Headquarters without prior authorization during a recent national audit visit. Critics have pointed out that a four-star general and current member of the National Assembly's Defense Committee should adhere to military security regulations.
Kim posted a video on social media showing himself exploring the interior corridors of the Army Headquarters upon his arrival at Gyeryongdae, a national security facility located in Gyeryong City, South Chungcheong Province. The facility, which houses the headquarters of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, strictly controls the entry of mobile phones and the filming of its premises.
Current laws generally prohibit the filming of military facilities. Article 9, Section 1, Clause 4 of the Military Base and Military Facility Protection Act forbids the filming, depiction, or recording of military facilities. Exceptions are only made when prior approval is obtained from the commanding officer for public projects. Critics argue that even during a national audit, the lack of specific filming approval raises concerns about potential violations of regulations.
Opposition lawmakers have voiced strong criticism. Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon stated on Facebook on October 21 that "Kim Byeong-joo, who treats military security as a trivial matter, is indeed a 'dung star.'" He highlighted the irony of a former general violating security protocols.
This is not the first clash between the two lawmakers. They have previously sparred over the controversy surrounding former Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and the timing of an investigation into a landmine explosion incident in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the western front. Kim Byeong-joo argued that immediate investigation was necessary to preserve evidence, while another lawmaker insisted on caution, stating, "We must carefully check for safety as we proceed in areas where additional landmines may be buried. Mixing combat readiness with accident scene investigations is tantamount to leading subordinates to their deaths." He added, "If you don't know, please keep quiet."
In response, Han remarked, "The term 'dung star' refers not to our military but to people like you." He questioned whether they would take responsibility if evidence were lost due to rain and whether they could prevent North Korea from manipulating evidence while they delayed action.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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