Lee Kwang-jae "Military Transport Plane Should Be Sent for Ukrainian-Koryoin Refugees"

On the 8th, Representative Yongbin Lee Plans to Visit Polish Refugee Camp
"Koryoin Are a Painful Part of Korea's History... Descendants Must Be Protected"

Lee Kwang-jae, Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office in Seoul on the 6th, announcing plans to visit Poland to seek humanitarian support measures for Koryoin refugees from Ukraine and to address Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's video speech to the National Assembly.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] Lee Kwang-jae, chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and member of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed his intention to accommodate Koryoin refugees in South Korea who fled due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On the 6th, Lee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and stated, "I plan to visit Poland from the 8th to the 10th to assess the situation of Ukrainian refugees and explore specific support measures for Koryoin compatriots from Ukraine."

Lee explained, "About 1,000 Koryoin compatriots have taken refuge in Poland alone to escape the war, and another 1,000 in surrounding countries. I plan to visit the refugee camp in Poland where about 1,000 Koryoin reside to assess the situation so that they can come to South Korea."

He added, "The history of the Koryoin is a painful chapter in the history of the Republic of Korea. During the Japanese colonial period, they went to China and Russia for the independence movement and were scattered throughout Russia, which is a painful history. Their descendants should be able to love and be protected by South Korea," he emphasized.

On the 8th, Lee plans to visit the Ukrainian refugee camp in Poland together with Democratic Party member Lee Yong-bin (representative of the parliamentary group for restorative cooperation with Ukraine) and meet with local Koryoin organizations and NGO officials. He said, "Lee Yong-bin is also a doctor and since there is a Koryoin village in Gwangju, he will accompany me to understand the local situation and ensure appropriate and accurate measures are taken."

Lee stated that military transport planes and medical support are necessary for Koryoin compatriots from Ukraine. He said, "(The refugees) do not have economic means, and since they fled, many do not have passports or connections to Korea," and urged the government to send military transport planes so that Koryoin can return to the embrace of South Korea, as was done during the previous Afghanistan situation.

He added, "We must help overcome difficulties through the support of humanitarian aid supplies such as medicines."

After the press conference, Lee announced during a Q&A session that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to deliver a video speech at 5 p.m. on the 11th at the National Assembly Library Auditorium. President Zelenskyy will speak for about 15 minutes, and the speech will be broadcast live on the National Assembly Broadcasting System. Lee plans to return on the morning of the 11th after assessing the situation at the Polish refugee camp.

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