Kim Boo-kyum: "Standing on the dedication of Cheonanham soldiers... Will take proactive measures for merit registration"

Gidongmin "All Surviving Soldiers Should Be Registered as National Veterans"
"Shifting the Failures of Top National Leaders onto Soldiers"

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is attending the government questioning session on politics, diplomacy, unification, and security held at the National Assembly plenary session on the 22nd, responding to the questions from the members of the assembly. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum stated that he will undertake a "progressive review" regarding the treatment of the Cheonan ship sinking war dead and surviving wounded soldiers. Prime Minister Kim said, "Our belief that we stand on the grateful dedication of those individuals remains unchanged."

On the 22nd, during the National Assembly's government questioning session, Prime Minister Kim responded to the criticism from Ki Dong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who pointed out the government's lack of interest in the treatment of the Cheonan ship war dead and surviving soldiers.

Rep. Ki said, "Imposing the burden of defeat on these (Cheonan ship soldiers) is no different from shifting the responsibility for the misjudgments and political exploitation by the highest state officials at the time, the operational failures, security failures, and intelligence failures of the military leadership onto the Cheonan ship soldiers," adding, "Those who should be held accountable have completely hidden behind the soldiers."

Prime Minister Kim agreed, saying, "I share that sentiment," and added, "When considering the near-crying voice of former Captain Choi Won-il and the various materials examined in the National Assembly at the time, shifting the responsibility for their sacrifice onto subordinates and trying to gloss over it is something all political circles must reflect upon." He continued, "Our belief that we stand on the grateful dedication of both the soldiers who died in the line of duty and those who survived remains unchanged."

Rep. Ki also raised concerns about delays and some cases of exclusion in registering surviving soldiers as national veterans. He said, "The government should not be satisfied with having registered only some soldiers as national veterans," and requested, "Please consider registering all surviving soldiers as national veterans."

Prime Minister Kim responded, "Rather than giving an immediate answer, I will ask the Veterans Affairs Committee to thoroughly review why there have been differences on an individual basis so far." He added, "I promise to take measures so that those who have been discharged or are currently serving can receive appropriate treatment."