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Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Truth Commission No Gun Ri
2. US troops No Gun Ri massacre
Kim Kwang-dong, the commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Korea, sparked controversy by describing the No Gun Ri massacre as “collateral damage” during a closed-door meeting. The incident, where 250-300 Korean refugees were killed by US troops in 1950, has been a subject of investigation and debate. Yang Hae-chan, president of the association of No Gun Ri victims’ families, condemned Kwang-dong’s remarks and demanded an apology. The US Army and Korean Ministry of National Defense released a joint statement in 2001 acknowledging the killings but avoiding the issue of legality. The No Gun Ri massacre remains a contentious issue that continues to be discussed and debated. The committee officially recognized 228 victims in 2005, 2008, and 2022. Former US President Bill Clinton expressed regret over Korean civilian deaths at No Gun Ri in 2001. The US government offered a memorial and scholarship fund, but families rejected it. Lee Ok-nam defended Kim during a session, sparking controversy. Heo Sang-su called for Kim to step down due to his handling of civilian massacres. Kim has been criticized for insensitive remarks and refusing recognition to young civilian victims in Jindo. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recognized 46 victims in Hampyeong despite Kim’s objections. These individuals were illegally killed by soldiers and police between 1949 and 1951.
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Kim Kwang-dong, the commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Korea, speaks to reporters on May 27, 2024. (Kim Young-won/The Hankyoreh)
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“I don’t regard the No Gun Ri massacre as having been illegal.”
“OK, you’re saying it wasn’t illegal?”
“I regard it as collateral damage in wartime.”
Kim Kwang-dong, the chairman of Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, described the No Gun Ri massacre as being an example of “collateral damage” in a closed-door plenary meeting of the commission, the Hankyoreh has learned.
The incident at No Gun Ri is one of the best-known civilian massacres carried out by American troops during the Korean War. Even though the incident was the subject of a fact-finding investigation mandated by a special law, the government official in charge of investigating traumatic incidents from the past has flatly denied the illegality of the massacre.
One of the commissioners at the meeting reportedly said the chairman “ought to step down” because of that remark. The president of a group of bereaved family members demanded that the chairman “immediately apologize.”
The Hankyoreh learned on Wednesday that Kim had addressed the No Gun Ri massacre during a discussion of civilians killed by soldiers and policemen in Hampyeong County during the Korean War in the commission’s 79th plenary session, which was held behind closed doors on Tuesday afternoon.
Kim remarked that if a victim of the Hampyeong incident identified as “K” had fled to Mount Gunyu, which was a guerilla stronghold, and then died during a punitive operation by the police, he probably shouldn’t receive official recognition as a victim. Lee Sang-hee, a commissioner recommended by the opposition party, countered that “K” had been killed while he was fleeing, just like the victims of the No Gun Ri massacre. When Lee asked if it was acceptable to massacre civilians during a war, Kim remarked that those killed in the No Gun Ri massacre weren’t victims of an illegal act but rather collateral damage.
The No Gun Ri massacre was an incident in which 250–300 Korean refugees were killed by submachine fire and bombing and strafing by US warplanes on the railroad tracks and in a railroad tunnel in the area of Haga Village, Yeongdong Township, and Nogeun Village (also written as “No Gun Ri”), Hwanggan Township, both located in Yeongdong County, North Chungcheong Province. The massacre occurred between July 25 and 29, 1950.
Yang Hae-chan, 84, lost his grandmother, mother and several siblings to US bombing on the railroad tracks during the massacre. Today, he’s the president of the association of No Gun Ri victims’ families.
Yang told the Hankyoreh, “They brought out women, children, the elderly and the infirm, promising to bring us to shelter, and then killed us over the course of five days. How could that have been spontaneous or collateral? How could such a massacre take place over that time period unless it were intentional? Kim Kwang-dong needs to stop running his mouth and immediately apologize to the victims’ families.”
“Collateral damage” is the expression the US has used to describe massacres carried out at the hands of American troops at No Gun Ri and many other places around the world. In a word, the idea is that civilian deaths are unavoidable in wartime.
Yang Hae-chan, the president of an association of families of victims of the No Gun Ri massacre of July 1950, points to bullet traces left by US troops from the incident on Oct. 20, 2020. (Oh Yoon-joo/The Hankyoreh)
On Jan. 12, 2001, the US Army and the Korean Ministry of National Defense released a joint statement after conducting separate investigations into the No Gun Ri massacre. The statement acknowledged that US troops had killed or injured an unknown number of refugees near No Gun Ri in the last week of July 1950, but made no mention of the illegality of that act.
Whereas the Korean Defense Ministry’s report detailed the events of the massacre and the number of victims, the US Army’s report neither specified the number of deaths nor addressed whether orders had been given to kill the refugees.
Peter McCloskey, former US congressman and one of eight civilian experts who served as advisers for the report, criticized the Army’s report as a “whitewash.”
Following the enactment of a special law on the No Gun Ri massacre in 2004, a committee was established under the prime minister’s office to identify and rehabilitate victims of the No Gun Ri Incident.
Kim Kwang-dong, the chairman of Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, recently sparked controversy with his remarks about the No Gun Ri massacre, one of the best-known civilian massacres carried out by American troops during the Korean War. In a closed-door plenary meeting of the commission, Kim described the massacre as “collateral damage” in wartime, denying its illegality.
The No Gun Ri massacre took place between July 25 and 29, 1950, in which 250-300 Korean refugees were killed by US troops through submachine fire and bombing. The incident has been a subject of investigation and discussion for many years, with efforts to bring justice to the victims and their families.
During the meeting, one of the commissioners suggested that Kim should step down due to his remarks, while the president of a group of bereaved family members demanded an immediate apology. The chairman’s comments have reignited the debate surrounding the tragic events of the No Gun Ri massacre.
Yang Hae-chan, who lost several family members in the massacre, criticized Kim’s statement, emphasizing the intentional nature of the killings and the need for accountability. As the president of the association of No Gun Ri victims’ families, Yang called for a sincere apology from Kim to acknowledge the pain and suffering caused by the massacre.
The US Army and the Korean Ministry of National Defense had previously conducted separate investigations into the No Gun Ri massacre, with a joint statement in 2001 acknowledging the killings but failing to address the illegality of the act. This lack of accountability and justice has been a point of contention for many seeking closure and recognition for the victims of the massacre.
In response to the controversy, efforts have been made to identify and rehabilitate victims of the No Gun Ri Incident, with a committee established under the prime minister’s office following the enactment of a special law in 2004. The ongoing discussions and debates surrounding the No Gun Ri massacre highlight the importance of addressing historical injustices and providing closure for the victims and their families.
The Hampyeong Massacre: A Tragic Chapter in South Korean History
In a recent plenary session, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission officially recognized 46 victims of the killings in Hampyeong, shedding light on a dark chapter in South Korean history. These 46 individuals, residents of Sonbul and Singwang townships of Hampyeong County, were illegally killed between April 1949 and February 1951 by soldiers with the 20th Regiment of the 11th Division of the South Korean Army and by policemen from the Hampyeong Police Department and precinct offices under its jurisdiction.
The Horrific Events Unfolded
The victims were targeted for reasons such as being suspected of treason or being related to left-wing activists. The killings, which took place in Hampyeong, paint a grim picture of the brutality that occurred during the Korean War. Families were torn apart, and innocent lives were lost in a wave of violence that scarred the region for years to come.
A Controversial Response
Despite the overwhelming evidence of the atrocities committed in Hampyeong, Chairman Kim has been reluctant to grant official recognition to the victims. His controversial remarks and questionable decisions have sparked outrage among commissioners and the public alike. The refusal to acknowledge the victims as such has raised concerns about the chairman’s motives and his stance on justice and accountability.
A Call for Justice
The commission’s decision to recognize the victims is a step towards acknowledging the pain and suffering endured by those affected by the Hampyeong massacre. It is a call for justice and a demand for accountability for the crimes committed against innocent civilians. The victims and their families deserve to have their stories heard and their memories honored.
Looking Towards the Future
As the truth about the Hampyeong massacre comes to light, it serves as a reminder of the importance of confronting the past and seeking justice for those who have been wronged. The recognition of the victims is a small victory in the larger struggle for truth and reconciliation in South Korea. It is a step towards healing the wounds of the past and building a more just and compassionate society for future generations.
In conclusion, the Hampyeong massacre stands as a tragic reminder of the human cost of war and the need for accountability in the face of injustice. The victims may have been forgotten by some, but their memory lives on in the fight for truth and justice. It is a solemn duty to remember their stories and ensure that such atrocities are never repeated in the future.
