<Anchor>



As the presidential office was located in Yongsan, the Ministry of National Defense moved to the Joint Chiefs of Staff next door, and accordingly, the Joint Chiefs of Staff is also planning to move to the site of the Capital Defense Command in Namtaeryeong.

The cost issue has been controversial, and it has recently been estimated that the cost of relocating the Joint Chiefs of Staff will cost 189 billion won, which is 100 billion won less than the government previously announced.

However, if you look at the contents, another controversy is raised that the main function of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may be reduced.



Reporter Kim Hak-hui covered the story exclusively.



<Reporter>



Last July, questions about the National Assembly and the government.



[Han Deok-soo/Prime Minister (Last July 25, Question to the Government of the National Assembly): I think and know that the new construction of the Joint Chiefs of Staff building is about 298 billion plus alpha.]



However, as a result of SBS coverage, the Joint Chiefs of Staff When the agency was entrusted with the prior research service, it reported to the National Assembly that the transfer cost would decrease by 100 billion won to 189 billion won.



It is said that it will use the existing underground bunker on the site of the Capital Defense Command.



Instead, the new government building was planned to be built next to this existing bunker without an underground command facility, electromagnetic bomb EMP, and chemical and biological protection facilities, and only about 80% of the current Joint Chiefs of Staff moved.



The Democratic Party, which had previously raised the cost issue, saying it would cost more than 500 billion won, criticized it differently as a hasty transfer plan after accepting the service results.



In particular, the plan to use underground tunnel-type bunkers made for wartime in peacetime was taken issue.



Currently, there is a command and control room in the basement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff building.



The Democratic Party pointed out, "Isn't it only in a hurry to reduce costs out of concern for public criticism?"



Regarding this, the power of the people said, “The budget was optimized accordingly because they told us to minimize the budget,” and dismissed “the opposition party’s argument as criticism for the sake of criticism.”



The military, who has to write the application form, is stuck between the ruling and opposition parties and is unable to speak.



The military authorities only announced the position that "currently, only preliminary research has been completed, and we plan to reflect it in the 2024 budget in consideration of operational efficiency in the future."



(Video coverage: Jo Chun-dong, video editing: Choi Jin-hwa, CG: Lee Jong-jeong·Jegal-chan, source: Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Seong-ho's office)