First Merit Payment to Kelo Unit Members... 10 Million Won Per Person

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Merit payments will be made to members and bereaved families of irregular special forces such as the 'KLO Unit' active during the Korean War. This is the first compensation measure under the Special Act for the Restoration of Honor of Irregular Forces, which has been in effect since last year.

On the 23rd, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it held the Irregular Forces Merit Compensation Deliberation Committee and decided to pay a total of 1.57 billion KRW in merit payments to 160 irregular forces merit recipients (143 individuals and 17 bereaved families), including KLO Unit members and their families. The merit payment was determined to be around 10 million KRW per person, referring to the precedent of the Baekgol Regiment Compensation Act, which had similar merits during the war.

Irregular forces refer to individuals belonging to organizations or units that conducted guerrilla warfare and intelligence gathering by infiltrating enemy territory from August 15, 1948, to July 27, 1953.

In 2007, the National Human Rights Commission recommended the Minister of National Defense to amend the Special Mission Performers Compensation Act or enact separate legislation so that KLO Unit members could also receive compensation from the Korean government. The government enacted the 'Korean War Irregular Forces Compensation Act' in April last year. The Ministry of National Defense plans to continue reviewing compensation applications until October next year. The number of eligible unit members, including the KLO Unit and the U.S. 8240 Unit, reaches about 18,000, with approximately 3,200 survivors. The bereaved families will receive compensation on behalf of the deceased.

The organizations recognized by the Irregular Forces Compensation Deliberation Committee as having conducted irregular warfare include the KLO Unit, the U.S. 8240 Unit, the CIA intelligence unit (Yeongdo Guerrilla Unit), and the U.S. Far East Air Force intelligence unit (Unit 6004). The KLO Unit, meaning Korea Liaison Office, was an intelligence unit organized by the U.S. Far East Command on June 1, 1949, mainly composed of individuals from North Korean regions. It conducted numerous secret operations during the Korean War in coordination with the U.S. 8240 Unit.

Detailed information on how to apply for merit payments can be found on the Ministry of National Defense website (www.mnd.go.kr) under the 'Irregular Forces Merit Compensation Deliberation Committee' section.

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