Defense ministry working to form civilian panel

SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean defense ministry said Friday it is working to organize a 15-member panel to assist its minister and step up civilian control over defense affairs.

The panel, to be led by Lee Sang-woo, former chief of Hallym University, has yet
to be launched as some of those invited to join it are still considering the
request, said Kim Kyeong-deok, who oversees reforms at the Ministry of National
Defense.
"The panelists would discuss areas such as weapons acquisitions and the
military's internal issues and deliver their opinions to Defense Minister Kim
Tae-young," he said.
The panel would also take part in the mid-term examination of South Korea's
10-year plan for defense outlays and reforms that expires in 2020, other
officials said.
The planned launch of the panel comes after President Lee Myung-bak called for
sweeping reassessment of defense ministry affairs at a Cabinet meeting earlier
this month.
South Korea operates a 655,000-strong military that critics say warrants tougher
civilian control amid lingering graft cases.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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