Chung Eun-yong
Chung Eun-yong | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1923 South Korea |
| Died | August 1, 2014 (aged 90–91) |
| Occupation(s) | policeman, activist |
| Years active | 1955–present |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 정은용 |
| Hanja | 鄭殷溶 |
| Revised Romanization | Jeong Eunyong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chŏng Ŭnyong |
Chung Eun-yong (1923 – August 1, 2014) was a South Korean
Chung Eun-yong, who returned to his pre-war job as a police officer in Daejeon in the mid-1950s, learned that the United States was accepting claims for damages related to the Korean War in 1960.[2] He joined with several survivors of the No Gun Ri Massacre, but the group missed the application deadline.[2] Chung quietly continued to gather evidence at archives in Seoul and Daejeon for the next three decades during South Korea's authoritarian military rule.[1] Professionally, he worked for a government agency which combated potential Communist threats to South Korea.[2] He also partnered to operate a small bottle manufacturing plant in Daejeon.[1] He retired in the 1980s.[2] Still the loss of his children never left him. He was later quoted by the Associated Press, "No Gun Ri never escaped my mind one single day."[1]
In early 1990s, South Korea's military dictatorship was replaced by a democratic government. By this time, Chung Eun-yong had concluded, through his research, that the 1st Cavalry Division, the parent unit of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, bore the responsibility for the No Gun Ri Massacre.[1] Chung concluded that South Korea's transition to democracy had finally given him the opportunity to speak out on the No Gun Ri Massacre for the first time since the 1960s.[2] He wrote a novel, "Do You Know Our Agony?", based on the events of the No Gun Ri, but it was rejected by ten different publishers due to the controversial nature of his charges. The book was finally published in 1994.[2]
Chung Eun-yong also began a series of petitions to the American government in the early 1990s.[2] He demanded a full investigation, an apology and compensation for survivors and victim's families.[1] His petitions were ignored or dismissed until a 1999 investigation by Associated Press uncovered evidence which corroborated the accusations of Chung and other survivors.[1][2] The Associated Press interviewed U.S. veterans who were near the site of the massacre and found declassified U.S. files stating that commanders had ordered their forces to shoot civilians in the war zone.[1][2] While other news organizations, U.S. News & World Report, founded flaws with the AP's investigation, including a false eyewitness account by veteran Edward L. Daily, who was later proven not to have been at No Gun Ri,[2] the AP investigation strengthened Chung's claims.[2]
Chung's petitions and the AP's stories caused American and South Korean authorities to launch an investigation.
The
In 1999, Chung joined with American veterans of No Gun Ri at a reconciliation service held at a church in
Chung Eun-yong was born in Chu Gok Ri, Korea, in 1923. The outbreak of the Korean War cut short his studies.
Chung Eun-yong, who had been in declining health, died on August 1, 2014, at his home in Daejeon, South Korea, at the age of 91.[2] He was survived by his wife of 69 years, Park Sun-yong, and a son born after the Korean War, Chung Koo-do. Chung Koo-do is the chairman of the No Gun Ri International Peace Foundation, which operates the No Gun Ri Peace Park.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Hanley, Charles J. (2014-08-06). "South Korean who forced US to admit massacre has died". Associated Press. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Martin, Douglas (2014-08-22). "Chung Eun-yong,Who Helped Expose U.S. Killings of Koreans, Dies at 91". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
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