Korean War hero may be nominated as honorary five-star general: officials

(ATTN: ADDS background for nomination in para 5)
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's defense ministry is considering
nominating a widely known Korean War hero, Paik Sun-yup, as the country's first
honorary general of the army, officials said Monday.

Paik, 88, a retired general, was the first to enter Pyongyang after the U.N.
forces led by U.S. General Douglas MacArthur turned the tables on North Korea
during the 1950-53 conflict.
The youngest South Korean ever to rise to full general at 32, Paik is regarded as
a hero among South Koreans critical of the North Korean invasion. The Korean War
ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula technically in
a state of conflict.
"We are examining a plan to nominate Paik as Honorary General of the Army," an
official at the Ministry of National Defense said, declining to be named because
the discussion was still under way.
The nomination, which would be made next year, is aimed at marking the 60th
anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, the official added.
No incumbent South Korean general has ever been promoted to general of the army,
equivalent to a five-star commander. The officials said Paik's honorary promotion
will require slight revisions to related laws.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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