"우리 국방부가 이래도 돼?" 6·25 전쟁을 왜..국민들 '당황' (자막뉴스) / SBS

Overview of the Controversy

The subtitles describe a dispute over how the Korean War is framed in an educational program run by the War Memorial of Korea, under South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense.

What Sparked the Dispute

• An event poster for a program titled “Different Interpretations of the Korean War” was uploaded to the War Memorial website.
• In the promotional graphic, wording reflecting the Chinese narrative—“Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea”—was used.
• The subtitles argue that this phrasing aligns with China’s claim that the Korean War was initiated as U.S. aggression, which implies support for North Korea against the United States.

Why It Became a Political Issue

• The inclusion of Chinese interpretations in a defense-related educational program for the Month of Patriots and Veterans led to criticism and a heated public exchange.
• The controversy is portrayed as raising concerns about the Ministry of National Defense’s position—specifically whether it was endorsing an “anti-American aid” framing of the war.

Defense Ministry Briefing Exchange

During the Ministry of National Defense’s regular briefing:

• A spokesperson and a reporter clash over whether the ministry had verified the facts and what the ministry’s official stance is.
• The subtitles note uncertainty about who was responsible, including discussion of an acting system and whether an Air Force deputy chief of staff is involved.
• There is also a suggestion that an active-duty military officer may be running the program.

Reaction and Corrective Actions

As the controversy intensified:

• The War Memorial Foundation suspended the program.
• Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek ordered a fact-finding investigation and strict measures.
• The stated rationale is that the program’s original goal was to emphasize that the Korean War began with North Korea’s illegal invasion of the South, and that the promotional wording was inappropriate.

Public Reaction

• Netizens reacted with anger.
• They questioned why the ministry would use wording like “Resist America and Aid Korea” and demanded accountability from those who planned the material.

Named Presenters / Contributors

• Lee Kyung-ho (Deputy Spokesperson)
• Jang (Director Jang is mentioned, but no given name is provided)
• Park Ki-hwan (Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff)
• Ahn Kyu-baek (Minister of National Defense)