The War Memorial Foundation, under the Ministry of National Defense, has initiated an investigation after including China's claim that the Korean War is an 'Anti-American Aid' war in an educational program for the Month of National Defense and Veterans.
According to the foundation on June 9, the program titled 'Korean War: Different Interpretations' has been accepting participants through its website since May 30.
The foundation explained that the program aims to compare the perspectives of South Korea and China on the Korean War, allowing for a multifaceted understanding of the conflict.
Promotional materials for the program featured the phrase 'Korean War: Different Interpretations' alongside the South Korean flag and the Chinese flag, with the term 'Anti-American Aid' presented in parallel with 'Korean War.'
'Anti-American Aid' refers to China's propaganda term justifying its military intervention in the Korean War, portraying the conflict as a response to American aggression. This contrasts with the South Korean government's emphasis on the war being initiated by North Korea's illegal invasion, hence the use of the term 'Korean War.' The program's presentation has sparked controversy, as it appeared to suggest that China's narrative is one of several acceptable perspectives.
A foundation official stated, "The intent of this education is to critically view China's distorted claim that the Korean War is an Anti-American Aid war. It is not accurate to say we are teaching from China's perspective."
A Ministry of National Defense official explained that the program was designed to clarify that the Korean War began with North Korea's illegal invasion.
The official added, "The War Memorial Foundation has determined that the expression used in the related promotional materials was inappropriate and has deleted the post today. The foundation will investigate the circumstances and take necessary actions according to relevant regulations and procedures."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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