Civic Group Opposes Yoon Government's Support for Ukraine Weapons

by Kong Byeongseon

Published 22 Apr.2023 09:41(KST)

Civil society organizations have expressed opposition to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's policy suggesting arms support to Ukraine.

A man is looking at the employment center building destroyed by a Russian missile attack in Derhachi, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, in August last year. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 21st, civic groups such as People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, the Health and Medical Workers’ Union for the Realization of the Right to Health, and World Without War issued a statement declaring, "We oppose arms support to Ukraine."

They said, "President Yoon Seok-yeol’s remarks hinting at the possibility of arms support to Ukraine came ahead of the Korea-US summit," adding, "Considering that the US and NATO have continuously requested Korea to provide arms support, lethal arms support to Ukraine could become a reality."

Furthermore, they stated, "Arms support only leads to a vicious cycle of hostility and violence," and "Democracy, freedom, human rights, and peace cannot be protected through the continuation of extreme violence such as war."

They continued, "The government must immediately halt any consideration of arms support," urging, "The Yoon administration should abandon its obsession with peace through power or military strengthening and seriously reflect on what truly guarantees security and creates peace."

President Yoon stated in an interview with foreign media on the 19th, "If Ukrainian civilians face large-scale attacks, support to Ukraine could be expanded beyond humanitarian and economic aid."