Young lawmaker hit for insulting war vet

By Kim Young-jin

A young lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic United Party drew criticism Monday for calling a decorated Korean War veteran a traitor and slamming the government for funding a project spearheaded by the man.

Rep. Kim Kwang-jin, 31, sparked an emotional response during an audit of the defense ministry when he said it was not appropriate to fund a musical being made about the veteran, Paik Sun-yup, because Paik once served in the Japanese Army.

Conservative lawmakers shot back, calling Paik a hero of the 1950-53 Korean War.

The claim “is a distortion of history,” Rep Han Ki-ho of the ruling Saenuri Party said. “Who’s going to defend the nation if we criticize everyone who does?”

Lawmaker Kim said the ministry was supporting the development of a musical about Paik to the tune of around $543,600.

“To pay for a musical about a traitor with taxpayer money is not right,” Kim said.

Born in what is now North Korea during Japan’s 1910-1945 rule of the Peninsula, Paik briefly served in the Japanese army, during which time he engaged in subduing communist guerrillas in Manchuria.

When the Korean War broke out, Paik was a commanding officer of the South’s first division to enter Pyongyang. He was later placed in command of the ROK I Corps in charge of eastern Korea.