The Marmot’s Hole

Today was the second anniversary of the June 29, 2002 West Sea (Yellow Sea) Naval Battle that resulted in the sinking of a South Korean patrol boat and the deaths of six South Korean sailors. It was an accident, of course, or so says the government, despite the fact that the patrol boat was apparently ambushed by two North Korean patrol craft. Anyway, a solemn ceremony was held in Pyeongtaek, home of the ROK 2nd Fleet, and a number of the family members were not too happy. The wife of one of the victims, pointing out how remembrance ceremonies were held in the United States and USFK commander Gen. Leon Laporte had sent her a letter thanking her for her husband’s sacrifice for democracy (who said USFK lacks people skills?), complained that Americans seem to remember her family’s sacrifice more than Koreans. “Frankly, I hate Korea,” she said. “It might be a couple of years, but I’m preparing to leave Korea.” The father of another complained that no one remembers those who were killed — he’s doesn’t feel comfortable talking about his son’s sacrifice, and wonders why there was no investigation into what occurred like what’s going on now with Kim Sun-il. The father of another one of sailors was even more pissed. He talked of removing his son’s body from the National Cemetery and bringing it to his family cemetery plot in Namyangju. Why? Nowadays, he said, people cry “One Race” and call for unification, so people like his son who died at the hands of the “enemy” (he apparently didn’t get the last Defense Ministry White Paper) are criminals. Elementary school kids welcome the North Koreans as friends and call the United States the enemy. Nobody came to apologize when his son died; when some guy goes to Iraq and gets killed, thousands of people pay their respects. His son? Not exactly. Another father said, “It’s regrettable how the whole nation shakes when Kim Sun-il gets killed when he goes to Iraq to earn money (ouch!), but my son dies actually defending his country, and two years later, it seems no one remembers.” Still another one of the victim’s fathers said, “When you look at the situation unfolding nowadays, there isn’t anything to say. It’s best just to live keeping quiet.”

President Roh did have a message read, although neither cabinet members, politicians from the ruling or opposition (!) parties, nor the president himself showed up. Anyway, the president called the sacrifice of the six men a stepping stone to the peace we enjoy today, said the intra-Korean military talks had resulted in measures that would prevent “accidental clashes” in the future and called on military to keep its guard up against aggression and terrorism. I’m not sure if the bereaved, many of whom feel that their loved ones’ sacrifices were intentionally covered up by the government in the name of intra-Korean reconciliation, were really in the mood to hear about “accidental clashes” and exhortations from the Roh administration for soldiers to do their jobs.

Last year, of course, it was much the same — I reprint here my post from June 18, 2003:

Wednesday, June 18, 2003

This makes me sick

Remember those six South Korean sailors who were killed in a bloody naval clash with the North Koreans in the Yellow (West) Sea during last year’s World Cup? USFK remembers them. The US 7th Fleet remembers them. The Marmot’s Hole sure as hell remembers them. Even Condoleezza Rice remembers them. The South Korean government, on the other hand, apparently does not. The Chosun Ilbo editorial staff writes:

The resentment and fury felt by the families of the six naval officers killed in the West Sea clash a year ago make us wonder whether we live in a country that fulfills its basic duties for its people. The families say that the government has not kept one promise - and that it has failed to send even one letter or make even one telephone call of condolence. “But the commanders of the UN forces, the U.S. forces in Korea and the 7th U.S. squadron all sent letters,” one father said. “Which country did my son die fighting for?” No one can answer him.

Later in the same piece:

In a telling anecdote, it is said that Condoleezza Rice, the White House’s national security adviser, asked a Korean government official if he knew the names of the two middle school girls killed last year by a U.S. armored vehicle. He answered yes right away. Then she asked if he knew any of the names of the sailors killed in the West Sea battle. The official stuttered, unable to answer the question. This embarrassing incident shows us how ridiculous our country may seem to the world.

No mass protests in front of Seoul City Hall. No NGOs screaming for justice. Not even a single fuckin’ letter from the government to the families of those young men who paid with their lives the price of freedom. You can be sure as hell the North Korean government sent letters to the families of its sailors that died - shit, it probably sent them nice, shiny medals (which they can’t eat). But the Noh Administration can’t even send the families of those killed ONE SINGLE FUCKIN’ LETTER! Given the current political climate, I wasn’t expecting much - Heaven forbid Noh should ruin Kim Jong-il’s kibun for the day. But Jesus, how can a government show such contempt for its own fighting men like this? As I’ve said before, I love this country. But today, I’m truly ashamed to be a resident of the Republic of Korea.

Fucking bastards.

UPDATE: That other Korean daily, which we shall not name in this blog for so shamelessly snubbing the Marmot, reports in its editorial that Lieutenant Lee Hi-wan, who lost a leg in the battle, has returned to active duty as a researcher at the Korean Naval Academy. Still no letter, however.

Fucking bastards.