South Korean President Vows to Recover Assets of Pro-Japanese Collaborators

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung declared on Monday that punishing individuals who betrayed the community for personal gain is a crucial duty, alongside honoring those who protected it. Speaking at the 71st Memorial Day ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery, he stressed that "only by honoring dedication and punishing betrayal can we achieve just integration for the sustainability and development of the national community."

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Punishing those who betrayed the community for personal gain is a very important duty given to us, along with honoring those who defended the community.

Lee highlighted the recently enacted "Pro-Japanese Property Confiscation Act," which passed the National Assembly last month and was promulgated on June 2. He pledged to investigate and recover assets unjustly accumulated by individuals involved in pro-Japanese collaboration, stating this would serve as a precedent and hold them accountable. The government plans to revive the Pro-Japanese Property Investigation Committee after a 16-year hiatus to carry out these recovery efforts.

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We will investigate and recover assets unjustly accumulated by pro-Japanese collaborators, hold them accountable, and set a precedent for preventing recurrence.

For the second consecutive year, President Lee omitted any mention of North Korea in his Memorial Day address. He instead focused on "special compensation for special sacrifices," reiterating his commitment to fulfilling promises made to those who served the nation. He assured that "commitments that can be kept will be made, and promises once made will be kept," emphasizing that neglecting such dedication would deter future contributions to the community.

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If the dedication for all is ignored, who will come forward for the community in the face of another crisis?

The president detailed ongoing efforts to fulfill these promises. Amendments to the Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Persons, etc., Engaged in Patriotic Service, aimed at expanding compensation for the bereaved families of independence activists, are set to take effect next year. Progress is also being made on providing living expenses support to spouses of veterans and expanding the veteran healthcare system. Plans are underway to designate quasi-veteran hospitals in Gangwon and Jeju provinces, which currently lack dedicated veteran hospitals.

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We are steadily fulfilling the promises made on Memorial Day last year.