The horrors of war as seen by Shincheonji Church of Jesus Chairman Lee Man-hee, a frontline veteran of the Korean War: "Why did we point our guns at our own people?"

 Have you ever thought deeply about the pain behind the peace we enjoy? It seems we've been unaware of the true truth our veterans, who sacrificed their lives for our country, faced on the battlefield.

Recently, Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee wrote about the horrors of the Korean War, which he personally experienced. While I was reading it, I found many passages heartbreaking,  so I'd like to share them with you.

What was most shocking was the fact that at the time, our country couldn't even produce a single bullet. Ultimately, we were forced into the tragic situation of killing our brothers and neighbors with weapons provided by the powerful nations.


The countries that sold the weapons reaped the benefits, leaving us, North and South, left with massive debt and poverty. 

"How can this be a history we can leave to our descendants?" The appeal that we never  repeat such a tragedy resonates deeply. To end the sorrow of separated families that has persisted for over 70 years, it seems tht now is the time for dialogue and compromise, not guns and swords. 

This is a vivid account and earnest plea from someone who experienced the war firsthand. I've summarized the text in the image below, so please take a look.


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After the liberation on August 15, our country was divided into North and South, and ideology and thought were also divided. As a result, the tragic Korean War, a fratricidal conflict, occurred. At that time, South Korean President Lee ○○ faced the war without any preparation. So, North Korea suddenly pushed down to Daegu. At this time, the United Nations forces helped our country (South Korea) and pushed back to the 38th parallel.

At that time, South and North Korea were in a situation where they could not produce a single bullet, so they ended up fighting a war, killing each other's own people with guns and weapons imported from abroad. At that time, I also participated in the war as a frontline soldier. How many young people from the North and South died at that time? This war was a shameful fratricidal war. How can this be a history that we can leave to our descendants?

This tragic civil war left both North and South Korea in debt. Not a single bullet used by the South Korean and North Korean forces was provided free of charge, nor was the UN aid provided free of charge. Consequently, both North and South Korea succumbed to enormous debt. This was the tragedy that followed the liberation on August 15th.

Why did compatriots have to kill compatriots? This was because the United States and the Soviet Union divided our country in two ideologically, and they started a war to sell their weapons for their own national interests. As a result, our country was divided into two countries, two ideologies, and the South and the North became enemies.

How much debt did the South and North incur due to the tragic fratricidal Korean War? This was the result of the cunning schemes of the United States and the Soviet Union. At one point, the United States and the Soviet Union dominated our country, turning it into a battlefield and selling off their outdated surplus weapons, and the tragic fratricidal war caused the South and North to fall further into poverty.

Today, more than 70 years after the armistice of the Korean War, South Korea has achieved remarkable progress and joined the ranks of economic powerhouses. This is a proud result of the unity of all its citizens.

The sorrow of separated families due to the Korean War still lingers with us. We must never again repeat the tragedy of fratricide. Issues between the South and the North must be resolved through dialogue and compromise.