Vietnam War Victims Wanted Justice. They Were Given ‘30 Bags of Rice.’
South Korean troops were the largest foreign contingent fighting alongside American soldiers during the Vietnam War. They have long been dogged by allegations of brutality.
By Choe Sang-Hun, Aug. 21, 2021
...Nearly a half-century after the war ended, victims of the massacre at Phong Nhi and Phong Nhut are seeking compensation from the Seoul government in the first lawsuit of its kind being tried in a South Korean court.
Stung by shocking testimony, South Korean lawmakers and civic groups are also pushing for a special law to investigate long-held allegations that South Korean troops killed thousands of civilians when they were the largest foreign contingent fighting alongside American soldiers during the war.
more:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/21/world/asia/vietnam-war-south-korea-massacre.html
Interesting how the NY Times tries to pin this on President Moon Jae-in. The fact is that the US-Japan supported dictator Park Chung-hee is responsible for this episode. The leadership cadre and training of ROK forces was formed early on by those officers, like Park himself, who participated in counter insurgency operations during WWII as Japanese trained members of its occupation forces in Manchuria. The Japanese Army's occupation policy for subjugating Chinese and Korean resistance fighters in North China was "kill all, burn all, destroy all." The Japanese Imperial Army trained Korean officer corps formed the cadre of the ROK Army during the Syngman Rhee dictatorship, as well. The earlier Rhee dictatorship was responsible for similar atrocities against civilian communities in South Korea before and during the Korea War. During the Rhee dictatorship the domestic atrocities were carried out by armed fascist youth league militias with the tacit support of the ROK military cadre trained in Japanese counter insurgency tactics. Some of the atrocities they committed were witnessed by US military officers.
The timing of the article is suspect as well coming so soon after President Moon's speech saying he was open to talks with Japanese leaders to resolve the issue of war crimes by Japan against Koreans during the Pacific War, specifically, the slave labor, and so called "comfort women" issues. Moon said he would like a resolution to take place consistent with international law and standards.
The Times' article implies that the Moon administration is trying to cover up ROK Army war crimes in Vietnam. The South Korean responses could be readily explained by earlier conservative administrations actively covering up their crimes by destroying records. Is the Times suggesting bad faith on the part of the Moon administration? Sure looks like it. Typically, forensic anthropologists and pathologists, have to examine the burial sites, remains, and other evidence of mass killings to determine the truth, because the bad actors, and their influential political supporters, have worked assiduously to cover up their crimes. One can understand the bitter feeling experienced by Vietnamese survivors of ROK Army atrocities. As to the "300 bags of rice," this practice, or something similar to it, is known as a solatia payment in the US Armed Forces, and is pathetically indequate to compensate families whose loved ones have been crippled or killed by the acts of the military. Obviously reconciliation and reparation proceedings are required. They will require cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea.
These issues have been buried indefinitely by South Korean conservative administrations. Fortunately, that's not the situation currently. The Times is actively trying to change the subject on the matter of outstanding and divisive war crime issues between Japan and South Korea, by substituting another atrocity discussion to unfairly tarnish the Moon administration.
In another article ostensibly concerning South Korean dislike of China,* the New York Times completely distorts the reality of election politics by throwing its weight behind presidential candidate, Yoon Seok-yeol, the far right "gaffe a day" extremist who has corrupted the administration of justice in South Korea. This candidate is notorious for his lack of knowlege on domestic and foreign policy issues. He and his family are just one step ahead of the jailer for a train of alleged corrupt acts. His mother in law was imprisoned recently after a trial conviction for a large scale medical fraud scheme. The case is currently under appeal. There are at least six investigations currently pending against Yoon, his wife and his mother in law.
*South Koreans Now Dislike China More Than They Dislike Japan, Choe Sang-hun, Aug.20, 2021; https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/20/world/asia/korea-china-election-young-voters.html?auth=login-google
Young voters are shown by the most recent polls to favor democratic candidate Lee Jae-myung over Yoon Seok-yeol. Yoon is viewed as Kon Dae, an officious old fart, out of touch with modern reality. The over sixty demographic is the only decade that supports Yoon at this point. His numbers have declined and stalled at a low level for weeks, because of his stupid pronouncements, and his on going political dispute with Lee Jun-seok. Lee Jun-seok who is the defacto leader of the youth vote in the conservative opposition People's Power Party. Lee himself is no prize as the pututive leader of South Korea's misogynist movement among young men. The NY Times also tries to make it appear that the opposition movement against the US THAAD missile base is somehow a thing of the past. The local demonstrations against THAAD have continued since 2017 without letup. Corruption of poll results in South Korea is a current issue. There are large discrepancies in polling results depending on the sources. *
*See: Skepticism grows over contradicting poll results in run-up to presidential elections, Yohnap News Agency, 8.18.21; https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210818006100315?section=national/politics
If you want to be woefully misinformed about Asian affairs read the NY Times.
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