Cheonan sailors treated as defeated, not heroes

By Kang Seung-woo

The Navy has publicly described the survivors of North Korea’s torpedo attack on the frigate Cheonan in 2010 as heroes.

Internally, however, they are being treated as defeated sailors who were undisciplined and did not even know why their ship was sinking at the time of the attack, according to some survivors, Wednesday.

On March 26, 2010, the naval ship, carrying 104 sailors, was sunken by a North Korean torpedo near the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, resulting in the deaths of 46.

At the time, the ship was participating in the ROK-U.S. joint military exercise _ Key Resolve.

Since then, the government has held a ceremony to remember the fallen soldiers and the Navy has extensively publicized their sacrifice, naming them “unsung heroes.”

After salving the wreckage of the Cheonan from the sea bed, the Navy has put it on display at the 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province to pay tribute to them.

However, sources and the survivors disclosed the Navy’s double-dealing with them.

“Among ranking Navy officers, there were some who thought that the Cheonan sinking was a dishonor for the South Korean Navy because our naval capabilities are superior to those of the North Korean Navy,” said a retired Navy officer on condition of anonymity.

“In addition, an officer of the Naval Education and Training Command made an inappropriate comment that seemed to blame the sinking on a lack of discipline among sailors aboard the Cheonan.”

Several survivors also said there was such a negative view of the sinking in the Navy.

“The Navy’s education materials in 2014 for those who would serve at the Cheonghae Unit for an anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia stated the sinking took place as the sailors were negligent in their vigilance,” said Jeong Joo-hyun, a retired Chief Petty Officer who was aboard the frigate, in an interview with broadcaster SBS.

Frustrated by the internal assessment, he sought an honorable discharge in June, 2015, scrapping his plan to serve with the Cheonhae Unit.

However, the Navy said the education materials and negative comments were made based on the education officer’s private opinion and not the Navy’s official position on the incident.

Meanwhile, many survivors said they were troubled with the negative view toward them, according to a poll last year by a veterans’ group.

The survey that interviewed 22 survivors from the Cheonan found that 16 were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the sentiment that they were defeated.

In addition, 10 survivors thought about committing suicide, with five attempting to hurt themselves.