The Korean War That Began with North Korea's Invasion of the South

In September, criticism centered on the news that the movie Sacrifice (Chinese name Geumgangcheon) would be distributed in Korea rated 15. Military-related civic groups pointed out, "It glorifies the invasion by the Chinese Air Force," and politicians criticized the Video Rating Committee, saying, "It is a movie produced from a Chinese perspective to commemorate the 70th anniversary of anti-American aid in China." In addition, the Korean Veterans Association strongly argued that "showing political propaganda depicting the Chinese Air Force as heroic is an anti-national act that shakes the values of the free democratic system." In addition to China’s attempts to distort the history of Northeast Asia through the so-called “Northeast Project,” the film produced from the standpoint of the Chinese military was enough to cause controversy once again over distorting the Korean War and glorifying the Chinese military. As the controversy raged, IPTV services were postponed indefinitely, and the distributor eventually withdrew its application for classification. In addition, a representative posted an apology, saying, "Currently, the copyright contract with the overseas copyright holder of the film has been canceled, and the request for a video rating review has been withdrawn."

Currently, China defines the Korean War as "anti-American aid" that helped North Korea fight against the United States, and names October 25, the date of the first victory of the Chinese military, or the Anti-American Aid Anniversary. The film was released across China on October 25 last year to commemorate its 70th anniversary. "With the ruthless bombing by the U.S. military, a large-scale offensive by the South Korean military begins with the ambition to advance north," is a poster phrase for the movie. As shown in the poster phrase, sacrifice was made by China, regarding them as heroic and portraying them as winning. "I still remember how shells fell like hail and the bodies of comrades piled up like mountains," said the Seoul branch manager of the Korean War Veterans Association. In addition, he was angry, saying, "It's sad that a movie that distorts the countless sacrifices of those who fought for their lives will be screened in their homeland."

The Battle of Kumsong, the background of the movie, took place on July 13, 1953, two weeks before the signing of the armistice agreement. The South Korean and U.S. forces fought against the Chinese in Geumseongcheon (Geumseong stream). During the battle, 1701 South Korean soldiers were killed, 7,548 were injured, and 4,136 were captured or missing. However, the film describes the Battle of Kumsong as a Chinese sacrifice and heroizes the Chinese army who helped North Korea. The movie depicts the Chinese army successfully repairing and crossing the Geumgangcheon Bridge following an airstrike all the while suffering heavy losses and despite a spy among their ranks. In addition, the U.S. military flag is represented as a "death bomber" and the film was promoted as the "last battle of the People's Republic of Korea, stained with the blood of the Korean military division."

The Korean War began on Sunday, June 25, 1950, as a "surprise invasion from North Korea" by the North Korean military and lasted three years, one month, and two days until a ceasefire was established on July 27, 1953. It was an ideological war between liberal democracy and communism involving 41 countries. With the establishment of a single government in South Korea following the May 10 general election in 1948, North Korea established ‘the Democratic People's Republic of Korea’, thereby further heightening the Cold War in Korea. In addition, as the war in Korea broke out, the Cold War turned into a "hot war."

On the day the Korean War erupted, North Korea's movement was unusual. On June 25, 1950, code "storm" was issued to all North Korean troops stationed along the 38th parallel, and shelling began at 4 a.m. After three days, the South Korean military ceded Seoul to North Korea, and by August, almost all of South Korea was occupied except for Busan, Daegu, and parts of Gyeongsangbuk-do. Numerous ROK and UN forces were killed as were more than 2.5 million civilians. More than 100,000 were orphaned and 10 million were separated from their families. The country was devastated. The damage to the North was also significant. Therefore, the Korean War is said to be Korea’s tragic history.

The Korean War clearly started with an 'invasion from North Korea.' It was a war that broke out after close consultation and agreement between North Korea, the Soviet Union, and People’s Republic of China. Stalin promised Kim Il-sung support with the war, and Mao Zeodong promised the help of the Chinese army if the U.S. military intervened and North Korea was in crisis. According to the 12th issue of the Chinese reform-oriented magazine Yeom Huang Chun-chu in 2013, Mao Zedong, a former president of China, said in a meeting with Anastas Mikoyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the Soviet Union, who visited Beijing on September 23, 1956, "The Joseon War (Korean War) was fundamentally wrong. Stalin deserves responsibility." In addition, the following year, he told Mikoyan, "Stalin and Kim Il-sung deliberately hid the timing and operational plan of the war from China. In the end, China was passively involved in the war", he said, expressing resentment against the Soviet Union and North Korea.

In addition, Dr. Korotkov, a senior researcher at the Military Research Institute under the Russian Ministry of Defense, said Kim Il-sung stayed in Moscow for three days and discussed the plan in detail with Stalin and Stymenko, and Soviet military officials. In addition, Nikita Khrushchev, former secretary-general of the Soviet Communist Party, presented testimony on the invasion by North Korea in his third memoir. He stated, "The war began under the leadership of comrade Kim Il-sung, and there was support from Stalin and many others," and "It was agreed as it was on the date that Kim Il-sung offered to initiate action for the unification of Korea." The war began on June 25, 1950, he asserted that the Korean War was planned.

The Korean War cannot simply be expressed as sacrifice and tragedy. We lost our country to Japan in 1910 and had to experience Japanese occupation. We gained independence owing to the noble sacrifices of numerous independence activists. However, even before enjoying liberation and independence, we had to wage war with our brethren in the North. We need to remember the Korean War and pay attention so that history is not distorted. October 1 is Armed Forces Day. It was designated to revive the significance of the date when the South Korean military broke through the 38th parallel after counterattacking the North Korean military. In the future, we will have to look back on the meaning of Armed Forces Day and be wary of such movies. History must not be forgotten. Also, now that China has produced a film that emphasizes anti-American aid, we need to understand how to interpret history accurately.

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