Veterans Affairs Agency Appoints Lecturer Who Claimed "US Started the Korean War"

Veterans Affairs Office: "Remarks on the Korean War Issues Are Inappropriate"

Photo by YouTube channel 'Gukgabohuncheo' screen capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is facing controversy for appointing a history instructor who claimed that "the Korean War was a war started by the United States" to give a lecture on 'Independence Activist of the Month.' This instructor is known not only for distorting the Korean War but also for making remarks that incite anti-American sentiment among students. In response to the controversy, the Ministry apologized on the 5th, stating, "The instructor's remarks are deemed inappropriate."

In an explanatory statement on the same day, the Ministry said, "The problematic video was confirmed to have been produced around 2009-2010 as internet lecture material for the college entrance exam preparation, and the Ministry has no relation to it whatsoever."

The Ministry explained the background of recruiting the instructor who made the problematic remarks, saying, "This year, to enhance the promotional effect of the Independence Activist of the Month, we produced a promotional video in August 2020 for the independence activist (Teacher Lee Seokyoung) with the instructor's talent donation. The instructor is a popular Korean history lecturer for civil service exams and has over 400,000 YouTube subscribers."

They added, "The Independence Activist of the Month video is based on facts and has no issues, but the video containing problematic remarks about the Korean War was not posted on the instructor's YouTube channel, so we were unaware of the instructor's remarks before producing the promotional video."

Furthermore, the Ministry emphasized, "There is no doubt that the Korean War was a North Korean invasion driven by the ambition for communist unification, and the instructor's remarks are considered inappropriate."

Additionally, the Ministry stated, "The instructor was included as a civilian member (11 members) of the policy advisory group of the relevant department of the Ministry in April 2020," and added, "We will take necessary measures, including excluding the instructor from the advisory group, after verifying the facts related to this video controversy."

Previously, history instructor A, who was assigned to give a lecture on the 'Independence Activist of August,' Teacher Lee Seokyoung, selected by the Ministry, became embroiled in controversy after it was revealed that he made inappropriate remarks about the Korean War in online lectures between 2009 and 2010.

At that time, he claimed, "The Korean War was a war orchestrated, scripted, and planned entirely by the United States," and "The Korean War was a war started by the United States." He further stated, "Even before the war broke out, preparations were made within the United States for South Korea to be unilaterally overwhelmed as soon as the war started, and then to launch the Incheon Landing Operation starting from Jeju Island."

He also said, "The greatest purpose and significance of studying modern history is to cultivate a mature anti-American consciousness," making remarks that seemed to incite anti-American sentiment among his students, which also sparked controversy.

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