First Use of Foreign Names in Korean Government Agencies

Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Names Meeting Room After General James Van Fleet
Called the Father of the Korean Military for Contributions to the Establishment of the Korean Military Academy... His Son Also Lost His Life in the Korean War

On the 19th, Park Min-sik, Commissioner of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, hung a painting depicting General Van Fleet and his son, who participated in the Korean War, together in front of the meeting room during the event naming the meeting room at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in the Government Sejong Complex as "Van Fleet Hall." (Photo by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has renamed the conference room on the 5th floor of the Patriots and Veterans Affairs building in the Government Sejong Complex after General James Van Fleet. This is the first time that the name of a foreign high-ranking military officer or politician has been given to a South Korean government facility. Previously, the room was called the "Peace Room" during the Moon Jae-in administration.

General Van Fleet (1892?1992) participated in the Korean War as the commander of the U.S. Eighth Army from April 1951, successfully repelling the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's offensive and pushing the front line north of the 38th parallel. Shortly after his assignment to Korea, he famously rebuked his staff officers who suggested "there is no chance of victory, we should withdraw to Tokyo," saying, "I came here to win. If you don't want to be with me, go home immediately."

General Van Fleet also contributed to the establishment of the Korea Military Academy and, after retiring, founded the Korea Society, greatly promoting Korea-U.S. friendship. In 1960, a statue of Van Fleet was erected on the Korea Military Academy campus, and many soldiers called him the "Father of the Korean Army."

His son, James Van Fleet Jr., also volunteered for the Korean War and served as a B-26 bomber pilot (U.S. Air Force captain). On April 4, 1952, he went missing after being hit by anti-aircraft fire while carrying out a bombing mission near the Suncheon area of North Korea (near Haeju).

Park Min-sik, head of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, attached a framed photo of the Van Fleet father and son to the conference room wall yesterday, emphasizing, "We will remember the noble sacrifice and dedication of the United Nations veterans who fought for the freedom and democracy of the Republic of Korea."