Korean War Hero May Get Honorary 5-Star Status
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
Mar 23, 2009