"Uri Minjok Shot Guns at the North" Baek Seon-yeop, Noh Young-hee Apologizes on the Day of the Controversy... "Wrong Statement"

Attorney No Young-hee. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Lawyer Noh Young-hee apologized for her recent remarks about the late General Baek Seon-yeop, saying, "He fired shots at our own people in North Korea, so he should not be buried in the National Cemetery."

On the 15th, Lawyer Noh said in the opening of YTN Radio's 'Noh Young-hee's Start of a New Morning,' "I apologize for the remarks I made regarding General Baek Seon-yeop's burial."

She explained, "I corrected myself during the broadcast and posted twice on my personal SNS, but since an image was shown on screen with a passage from General Baek's autobiography stating, 'I had no choice but to aim my gun at my compatriots, and I must accept the criticism,' my unintended remarks got mixed during the live broadcast, resulting in a misreported statement."

She added, "I was born in the 1960s and grew up receiving thorough anti-communist education, always living with gratitude toward the veterans of the Korean War and the patriotic spirits. I did not intend to speak with any other meaning, nor could there have been any other meaning. Once again, I express my gratitude to the Korean War veterans, the patriotic spirits, and our military personnel, and I apologize for the mistaken remarks that could have caused offense."

Earlier, on the 13th, Lawyer Noh criticized the controversy over General Baek's burial in the National Cemetery in a media interview, saying, "I don't understand. Just because he is recognized for his merit in winning by firing shots at our own people in North Korea during the Korean War, does that mean he should be buried in the National Cemetery?"

She also stated, "Realistically, I think 'pro-Japanese collaborators' are worse," and argued, "I believe General Baek should not be buried even in the Daejeon National Cemetery."

On the afternoon of the 14th, citizens pay their respects at the memorial altar for the late General Baek Seon-yeop set up at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, the host asked, "Are you unwilling to correct the part where you said 'the Korean War where shots were fired at our own people'?" to which Lawyer Noh replied, "Wasn't the Korean War fought against North Korea? Then what should I say? I really don't know."

After the broadcast, her remarks were criticized as careless, and some even protested and demanded her resignation on the official website bulletin board of the radio program she hosts.

Meanwhile, on the 14th, the United Future Party announced that it would file a complaint against Lawyer Noh with the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) regarding her remarks.

The United Future Party strongly condemned her, saying, "Lawyer Noh insulted General Baek, a war hero and protector of the nation, solely because 'the North Korean People's Army is also our people.' This is an utterly unacceptable anti-national idea."

They added, "It is a reckless remark that insults countless patriotic spirits and causes irreparable wounds to the bereaved families."

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