Chairman Kim Won-woong: "US Forces Are Occupation Troops" ... Veterans Affairs Director: "Inappropriate"

Kim Won-woong, President of the Liberation Association, visited the funeral hall of the late Baek Ki-wan, Director of the Unification Issues Research Institute, set up at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 15th. After paying his respects, he responded to questions from the press. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Hwang Ki-chul, head of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, expressed on the 1st that the remarks made by Kim Won-woong, president of the Gwangbokhoe, comparing the US military to an occupying force were "highly inappropriate." Hwang made this criticism during a plenary session of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee in response to a related question from Park Soo-young, a member of the People Power Party.

Earlier, in a video sent to students at Baekseok High School in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province last May, Kim stated that "the Soviet army that entered North Korea after liberation was a liberating army, while the US military was an occupying army," sparking controversy.

Hwang said, "This can cause various social controversies, and it is particularly regrettable that such remarks were made to high school students." He added, "We will verify the facts with the Gwangbokhoe and express our concerns or take other measures if necessary."

Previously, the 'Choi Jae-hyung Award' for independence activists, awarded by the Gwangbokhoe to Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, has also become controversial. The award was created to honor independence activist Choi Jae-hyung, who fought against Japanese colonial rule in Russia, but there was no consultation with the Choi Jae-hyung Memorial Association, the organization dedicated to commemorating him. In particular, there are criticisms that since Kim Won-woong took office as president of the Gwangbokhoe, awards have been disproportionately given to ruling party lawmakers.

Kim's remarks have also been controversial. He was sued by the bereaved family of the late Ahn Ik-tae (1906?1965), who composed the national anthem, accusing him of labeling Ahn as a "traitor to the nation" due to alleged pro-Japanese and pro-Nazi actions.

In a lecture invited by the Gyeongnam Provincial Council, Kim also stated, "The United States and South Korea are not allies," and "Our country was divided by the United States, and because of this division, the Korean War occurred, so the structural cause of the war lies with the United States."

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