By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
The government is considering nominating retired General Paik Sun-yup, 89, a 1950-53 Korean War heroe, as an honorary five-star general, officials of the Ministry of National Defense said Monday.
The idea is part of efforts to honor the war veteran's marvelous achievements and leadership during the war on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the fratricidal war next year, officials said.
To that end, the ministry is studying related legal problems, they said.
Under current law, a retired military officer can be promoted up to the rank of colonel, while an incumbent four-star general is eligible for nomination to become a five-star general in recognition of his or her significant contribution to national security, they added. No incumbent South Korean general has ever been promoted to five-star status.
Born in South Pyeongan Province, now in North Korea, in 1920, Paik served as the nation's first four-star general during the war.
A graduate of Mukden Military Academy of Manchukuo (Manchuria), he became an officer of the Manchukuo Imperial Army and served in Gando Special Force during the Japanese colonial period.
He joined efforts to subdue communist guerrillas in Jiandao. He also joined the Japanese campaign in northern China for 10 months between 1944 and 1945.
After the end of World War II, he fled to the South as an increasing number of communists threatened his safety. In South Korea, he was commissioned a first lieutenant in the local constabulary, the predecessor of the South Korean Army.
When the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, he was assigned to defend Seoul as the 1st Infantry Division's commander. He finally retreated to South Gyeongsang Province and successfully defended the Busan perimeter.
Later, Paik was appointed to Army chief of staff in July 1952, devoting himself to building up the Army. In January 1953, he was promoted to the rank of general, which made him the first four-star general in the Armed Forces.
He served as commander of the First Field Army, the Army chief of staff, and chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff until his retirement in May 1960.