Lee Geun Returns Home After 3 Months: "Refused Ukrainian Citizenship, Will Accept Punishment"

Former Captain Lee Geun, who participated in the foreign volunteer battalion 'Territorial Defense Forces International Brigade' in Ukraine, returned on the morning of the 27th at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 and is answering questions from the press.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gye-hwa] Lee Geun (38), a former captain of the Navy Special Warfare Group (UDT/SEAL) who participated in the foreign volunteer battalion 'Territorial Defense Forces International Brigade' in Ukraine, returned to South Korea on the morning of the 27th through Incheon International Airport.

Former Captain Lee departed from Warsaw, Poland, the previous evening and arrived at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport around 7:30 a.m. on the same day. It has been about three months since he left the country without permission, declaring his intention to fight against the Russian forces that invaded Ukraine in early March.

Former Captain Lee, who received treatment for a torn knee cruciate ligament at a military hospital locally, is reported to have returned for rehabilitation treatment.

He is currently under investigation for violating the Passport Act by entering Ukraine, a Level 4 travel alert (travel ban) area, without government permission. Violating the Passport Act by visiting or staying in Ukraine without government approval while a Level 4 travel alert is in effect can result in imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW. Administrative sanctions such as passport invalidation may also be imposed.

The police sent investigators to the airport to interview Lee and confirmed his injury. They are proceeding with an immediate travel ban on Lee and plan to schedule an investigation considering his treatment progress and health condition.

Former Captain Lee Geun, who participated in the foreign volunteer battalion 'Territorial Defense Forces International Brigade' in Ukraine, is answering questions from the press at Incheon International Airport.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In an interview with reporters on the same day, when asked about his 'volunteer soldier participation impressions,' former Captain Lee said, "I know I have been heavily criticized. The truth is, I didn't go to fight but to protect people," adding, "Seeing the war firsthand, I witnessed many criminal acts. Having seen it with my own eyes, I believe I made the right judgment." When asked about his physical condition, he said, "I injured both knees. Both cruciate ligaments were torn, and the military hospital said surgery is necessary."

When asked about the specific situation in Ukraine, he replied, "The situation was very bad when I first arrived. If Kyiv falls, the entire Ukraine could collapse," adding, "As soon as I arrived, I formed a special forces team and went to Kyiv, fighting on the front lines for the first time. If the front line collapses, Kyiv falls, and if Kyiv falls, the whole country could collapse."

Regarding the local civilian massacres, former Captain Lee said, "The first mission I witnessed was a Ukrainian driver being shot and falling by Russian forces. It was very upsetting."

When asked about his stance on being reported for violating the Passport Act and being under review, he said, "I haven't really thought much about that. I expected the police to arrest me immediately," adding, "There were 10 police officers waiting as I got off the plane, but they didn't arrest me right away and said they would investigate later. I agreed to be quarantined at home for a week and cooperate with the investigation."

Regarding rumors that he received Ukrainian citizenship, he emphasized, "Not all volunteers can receive citizenship. I stayed for three months and fought for a long time, so they said they would give me citizenship, land, and many benefits," adding, "But I am Korean, and receiving citizenship just to avoid fines and trials is not right. So I said I would not accept citizenship."

When asked about the difficulty of rejoining the fight due to the travel ban, he said, "I still have a Ukrainian military ID, and since I came out for injury treatment, I want to return. I don't want to live there, but the war isn't over yet, so there is still much to do," adding, "The situation in Kyiv has improved and become safer compared to when I first arrived, so I think we need to fight more. I want to go back to Ukraine."