[단독] Military Manpower Administration charges the police for violating the Military Service Act, the son of former Financial Services Chairman Eun Seong-soo

According to JTBC coverage, the Military Manpower Administration recently filed a complaint with the police against Eun-mo, the son of former Financial Services Commission Chairman Eun Seong-su, on charges of violating the Military Service Act. Former Chairman Eun is a high-ranking public official who served as president of the Export-Import Bank of Korea and chairman of the Financial Services Commission under the Moon Jae-in administration.

Eun obtained permanent residency in the United States in December of last year and returned to Korea in January of this year. In the same month, Eun went back to the United States after receiving permission from the Military Manpower Administration to extend the period of overseas travel for the purpose of ‘organizing housework for enlistment’. In other words, he’s going to enlist, so he’s been given permission to leave the US so that he can organize his work, etc. Ms. Eun was permitted to travel abroad for three months. Persons compulsory for military service can travel abroad only with permission from the Military Manpower Administration.

However, in March of this year, Eun, who was in the United States, applied to the Military Manpower Administration to extend the period of overseas travel again. This time I heard a different reason. It was the purpose of ‘migrating abroad’. The Military Manpower Administration did not allow it. And he ordered Eun to return to Korea by May of this year. However, Eun did not respond, and he still resides in the United States to this day.

The Military Manpower Administration filed a complaint with the police against Eun for violating the Military Service Act. The Military Manpower Administration told JTBC that “in accordance with relevant regulations such as the Military Service Act, we are taking necessary measures to fulfill military service obligations.” According to Article 94 of the Military Service Act, failure to return to Korea within the period of permission is punishable by imprisonment for between 1 and 5 years or less than 3 years.

JTBC also found out that Eun had already been accused by the police once by the Military Manpower Administration last year. Eun, who was studying in the United States, expired in September last year. At that time, Eun applied twice to the Military Manpower Administration to extend the period of overseas travel for reasons such as ‘applying for permanent residence’ or ‘attending an interview to acquire permanent residence’.

The Military Manpower Administration rejected both times saying that it could not extend the period of overseas travel because it was ‘applying for permanent residence’. And I notified Eun of her return to Korea. However, Eun refused the Military Manpower Administration’s order to return home and went through the process of obtaining permanent residency. The Military Manpower Administration charged Eun with violating the Military Service Act.

Eun eventually obtained permanent residency, and immediately filed an objection to the Military Manpower Administration. But suddenly, the Military Manpower Administration accepted Eun’s objection. The Military Manpower Administration accepted Eun’s argument that if you leave the United States while applying for permanent residence, your green card may become invalid. It is also known as the reason for accepting the objection that Eun had expressed her intention to return to Korea and perform military service if she obtained permanent residency. Former Financial Services Commission Chairman Eun Seong-soo told JTBC, “I was going to return to Korea after completing my permanent residency interview.” After that, Eun was able to return to Korea while obtaining permanent residency, and the Military Manpower Administration dropped the accusation right after Eun returned home. The Military Manpower Administration made a different decision for a month on the same issue of obtaining permanent residency.

The Military Manpower Administration is of the opinion that it has taken all possible measures against Eun. If Eun does not return to Korea, his identity will be disclosed on the Military Manpower Administration website, and he plans to persuade Eun and former Chairman Eun to return home and perform military service. However, there is no way to force Eun Eun to return home. An official from the Military Manpower Administration said, “In general, even if a person obligated to do military service stays abroad without permission, there is no way to forcefully bring him back.” If Eun does not return to her home country by the age of 37, she is automatically exempted from military service in the year she turns 38.

Former Chairman Eun has told JTBC, “I think I should go to the military, and I have no intention of avoiding military service.” He added, “I will continue to persuade my son to return to Korea and I will make an effort.” However, former Chairman Eun informed that the Military Manpower Administration had filed an administrative appeal with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission in relation to the measures that did not allow the extension of the overseas travel period and was awaiting the outcome. The reporters tried to contact Eun-eun several times to hear the position of the person involved, but did not respond.