Shin Won-sik: "Remarkable Merit in Saving the Country during the Korean War... Late Baek Seon-yeop Should Receive a State Funeral"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Shin Won-sik, a member of the Future United Party, raised his voice insisting that the late General Baek Seon-yeop's merits should be recognized with a state funeral.

On the 13th, Shin appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "Is there any contribution to the nation or society as remarkable as saving the country during the Korean War?"

He said, "If you talk about the greatest merit in the Korean military, most military personnel would probably point to the late General Baek," adding, "According to Article 2 of the State Funeral Act, the recipients include former and current presidents, president-elects, and those who have made remarkable contributions to the nation or society and are revered by the people." He argued that according to paragraph 3, a state funeral should be held.

Regarding the controversy that the late General Baek was involved in pro-Japanese collaboration while serving in the Manchukuo Gando Special Unit in the past, he explained, "It is true that he served in the Gando Special Unit, but around 1943, there were no anti-Japanese forces in the Manchuria region," adding, "The anti-Japanese forces were the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army supported by the Chinese Communist Party in the 1930s, but by around 1940, they were annihilated by the Japanese army's Gando army suppression operations, fled to the Soviet Union in 1940, and by 1943, they no longer existed."

He continued, "He himself submitted a statement claiming he did not engage in any combat activities, but it was not accepted," adding, "As you know well, he was not in Manchuria in 1943, so the unit moved to Beijing and suppressed the Chinese Communist Party's Eighth Route Army, not our independence army. According to his records, he was a platoon leader of a guard unit, not the main force," he added.

Shin said, "If you insist on interpreting being in the Gando Special Unit itself as pro-Japanese activity, you can do so, but if you look closely, he did not actually engage in such acts. Even so, if he made remarkable contributions afterward, he should be given appropriate honors," adding, "It is the same as saying that if you have a slight flaw, no matter how much contribution you make to the Republic of Korea, you cannot be recognized because of your background or affiliation."

Shin argued that the late General Baek, who is scheduled to be buried at Daejeon National Cemetery, should be interred at Seoul National Cemetery. He said, "(It is) not a matter of rank with Daejeon National Cemetery, but the National Seoul Cemetery was created to enshrine those who died in the Korean War," adding, "General Baek is a symbol of saving the country during the Korean War, and it is the duty of the people to enshrine him there."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.