"South Korea Must Acknowledge Allegations of Sexual Violence in the Vietnam War," British MP Writes

Tens of Thousands of Rape Victim Vietnamese Girls Estimated
"Korea Ignores Sexual Assault Allegations by Korean Military... Urges Investigation"

Wayne David, a member of the UK Labour Party, argued that the South Korean government should acknowledge allegations of sexual violence by Korean troops during the Vietnam War. Photo by Wayne David.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Wayne David, a British Labour Party MP, pointed out that while South Korea is taking the lead in resolving the issue of Japanese military comfort women, it is ignoring allegations of sexual violence by South Korean troops during the Vietnam War.

On the 28th (local time), according to the British Independent, David, chairman of the 'All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vietnam' (APPG Vietnam), published an article titled "When South Korea Acknowledges Sexual Violence Allegations in the Vietnam War."

David wrote that South Korea has been campaigning tirelessly for decades to receive an apology from Japan regarding the issue of Japanese military comfort women.

He pointed out that this stance starkly contrasts with how South Korea has responded to allegations of sexual violence by its own soldiers during the Vietnam War.

According to David, South Korea deployed the second-largest number of troops (320,000) after the United States during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1975.

South Korean troops committed sexual assaults against Vietnamese women during the Vietnam War, some of whom were as young as 12 to 13 years old at the time.

Tens of thousands of Vietnamese women were raped, and it is estimated that about 800 survivors are still alive.

He particularly pointed out that the children born from these assaults, known as 'Lai Daihan,' have been stigmatized regarding their birth and have suffered social oppression.

As chairman of APPG Vietnam, he met with Lai Daihan, who are ostracized by society, living in low-income rural areas and deprived of essential services such as education.

He reported that the Lai Daihan are demanding recognition, investigation, and apology from the South Korean government, and that the victimized women seek moral compensation rather than monetary.

He also urged the South Korean government to acknowledge and investigate the allegations of sexual violence by its troops.

He argued that doing so would bring peace to the Vietnamese victims, end the suffering of the Lai Daihan, and strengthen South Korea's values.