Local Government to Compensate Incheon Landing Operation Survivors and Descendants

Here is another example of an anti-US effort being promoted by the South Korean left:

The conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) on Friday criticized a decision by the Incheon city legislative council to compensate residents for damages incurred by the U.S.-led landing at the port city during the Korean War. 

The Incheon Metropolitan Council approved a municipal ordinance on March 15 that will offer subsidies to residents of Wolmi Island who suffered damages from the 1950 military operation or their descendants.

The surprise amphibious landing at Incheon resulted in a critical strategic reversal in favor of the U.S.-led United Nations troops and South Korea during the Korean War. The operation, which took place from Sept. 15 to 19, 1950, allowed the recapture of Seoul two weeks later. The operation, led by U.S. Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur, involved bombings of Incheon by UN forces. 

“The Incheon city council, where the Democratic Party [DP] controls the majority, created the compensation plan,” said Rep. Kim Jin-tae of the LKP. “Do they want to compensate the people for all past damages, such as those from Donghak Peasant Revolution [in 1894], the Qing invasion of Joseon [in 1636] and the Japanese invasions of Korea [from 1592 to 1598]?” 

Joong Ang Ilbo

Remember the leftist in Incheon are the same people that tried to tear down the General McArthur statue at Jayu Park in the middle of the city.

Here is the best quote from the article that explains what this is really all about:

Kim also said offering compensations to the residents would only satisfy Kim Il Sung, the late founder of the North who initiated the North’s invasion of the South in 1950.  (……..)

“If compensations are sought for the damages caused by the Incheon landing operation, they must ask for the money from the North, since it caused enormous damage by starting the Korean War,” said Rep. Jun Hee-kyung, spokeswoman of the LKP. “They are saying nothing to the North, but supporting the civic groups which demand compensation from the UN forces that helped the South. Is this what the Moon Jae-in administration refers to as justice?” 

Joong Ang Ilbo

Remember little issues like this are all about keeping the kettle of anti-Americanism simmering in South Korea before finding a major issue the South Korean left can sensationalize. We saw this happen prior to the 2002 Armored Vehicle Accident that the Korean left used to create a huge anti-Americanism backlash.

We saw another huge anti-American backlash in 2008 with the anti-US Beef Riots that nearly toppled the newly elected conservative President Lee Myung-bak.