INTERVIEW South Korean veterans minister hails ROK-US alliance as pivotal pillar in nation's history

Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-shik speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at Seoul Regional Office of Veterans Affairs in central Seoul's Yongsan District, Sept. 22. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

By Lee Hyo-jin

• Published Sep 25, 2023 9:50 PM KST
• Updated Sep 29, 2023 9:39 AM KST

The seven-decades-old alliance between South Korea and the United States formed with the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty on Oct. 1, 1953, has played a vital role in South Korea's history as a safeguard for the peace and prosperity of the nation, according to Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-shik.

The post-war treaty has, and will, continue to protect South Korea from another North Korean invasion, he said.

"The Mutual Defense Treaty has played a pivotal role in preserving the peace established by the Korean Armistice Agreement, and still continues to serve as the foundation for the prosperity we enjoy today," Park said during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Sept. 22.

"Even though North Korea has carried out numerous provocations in the past seven decades, the fact that the North has not initiated another war is attributable to the overwhelming deterrence created by the Mutual Defense Treaty. The ironclad alliance has left North Korea with virtually no opportunity to start a war, not even a 0.1 percent chance."

And this "hard-won" peace should not be taken for granted, Park stressed.

He viewed that the country's inaugural President Syngman Rhee played an instrumental role in securing U.S. support for South Korea during the period leading up to and following the 1950-53 Korean War, and such an effort eventually led to the signing of the defense treaty.

"If you take a closer look at how the treaty was ratified with all the negotiation process, the U.S. side was initially reluctant to sign the agreement. But President Rhee, a remarkable politician with excellent diplomatic skills, ultimately persuaded U.S. officials to commit to the treaty," the minister said.

Rhee's legacy remains a subject of ongoing debate and historical research. He is revered by some for his role in establishing the foundation of modern Korea and fostering a strong partnership with the U.S. On the other hand, he is criticized for solidifying the division of the two Koreas and for his authoritarian rule during his presidential tenure. He was ousted by a civil uprising in 1960.

During the interview, Park renewed his support for the swift establishment of a memorial for Rhee, an ongoing project led by the Memorial Association for Founding President Syngman Rhee.

Following an upgrade of the veterans ministry from a sub-ministry unit to full-fledged ministry status in June this year, Park was sworn in as the inaugural veterans minister of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

Park said the elevated status of his ministry reflects the government's commitment to recognizing and rewarding patriotic services. Through the upgrade, the scope of veterans entitled to government support has been largely expanded, and the ministry is developing various sustainable support policies for them.

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement signed on July 27, 1953, Park has been ramping up efforts to strengthen relations with countries that helped South Korea during the Korean War. In July, the ministry hosted a major commemoration ceremony in Busan where 62 foreign veterans who fought for the South under the U.N. flag and their descendants were invited.

"The relationships and friendships forged with the 22 countries that participated in the Korean War have grown stronger and more robust over time through various cooperations in veterans affairs on government levels. I believe these partnerships are a valuable diplomatic asset for our nation," Park said.

"Our ministry is currently expanding the scope of international veterans' policies to include the descendants of U.N. Korean War veterans and soldiers who were deployed after the Armistice Agreement, in order to ensure that their contributions are remembered not only in South Korea but also in their own nations."

In September, Park met with Ukrainian Minister for Veterans Yuliia Laputina on the sidelines of the Invictus Games held in Germany, during which the two sides agreed to cooperate in Ukraine's projects honoring the fallen soldiers in its ongoing war with Russia.

"I think the situation in Ukraine due to Russia's agression is similiar to what we have experienced decades ago," Park said. "As a nation that has successfully rose from the ruins of war, we should support Ukraine not only in their reconstruction projects but also regarding policies needed to honor their fallen soldiers."

Renovation of Seoul National Cemetery

In Korea, commemorating the fallen heroes is widely percieved as a solemn occasion that takes place nationwide on June 6 Memorial Day. However, Park views that honoring patriotic services should be entrenched in the nation's culture and identity that people can experience in their daily lives.

"Honoring veterans should not only be about visiting graves and paying tribute on Memorial Day," he said. "What's even more important is for people to carry a sense of respect and gratitude in their hearts throughout the remaining 364 days of the year."

Against this backdrop, the veterans ministry is planning to renovate of the Seoul National Cemetery located in Dongjak District, with an aim to make the facility more accessible to the public. The renovation project, launched in June, will transform the cemetery into a cultural park and tourist spot similar to the Arlington National Cemetery in the U.S. state of Virginia.

"People tend to think that rewarding veterans is about remembering the past. But actually, the core value of rewarding patriotism lies in shaping the nation's identiy that empowers future generations," Park said.