Cheonan Ship 'Shin Eun-chong, Reserve Sergeant'... Disability Grade Upgraded

On the 24th, a day before the 71st anniversary of the Korean War, a large banner with the phrase "We will remember every last one" was hung on the outer wall of the Seoul Library in Jung-gu, Seoul. The banner listed the names of veterans who participated in the Korean War, the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Cheonan ship sinking, and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling incident. It is meant to remember and express gratitude to all those who worked hard to protect peace on this land. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] It has been confirmed that the disability rating of Reserve Sergeant Shin Eun-chong, who suffered aftereffects following the Cheonan ship attack incident, has been upgraded.

According to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs on the 23rd, Sergeant Shin's disability rating was upgraded from the previous Grade 6, Item 2 to Grade 4 following a physical examination in the courtroom last month.

Sergeant Shin sustained injuries to his spine and knees during the Cheonan ship attack. Since then, he has complained of suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), which causes severe pain in the injured areas, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by trauma from the attack. Previously, CRPS and PTSD were not reflected in the disability rating assessment.

However, with this year's improvements in the veterans' review standards and procedures, Sergeant Shin's case was reviewed by medical experts in the relevant fields and reflected in the improved disability rating criteria.

Meanwhile, as of the end of February, a total of 19 individuals, including 13 wounded and 6 deceased, from the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong have all been registered as national merit recipients. It has been reported that 89% of the Cheonan ship attack victims and 88% of the Yeonpyeong Island shelling victims have been registered as merit recipients.

An official from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs stated, "We will continue to carefully attend to the inconveniences of wounded soldiers who defended the West Sea and others who have dedicated themselves to the country, and through continuous innovation and institutional improvements, we will persistently pursue a ‘reliable veterans policy’ that takes full responsibility to ensure that the ‘noble sacrifices for the country’ are not in vain."

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