Time running out for Wolmido residents waiting to go home

Posted on : 2007-06-27 16:15 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Demonstrations and protests call upon the gov’t to let over 150 former residents reclaim their rights

They marked the 57th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. However, former residents of Wolmido,

a costal area near of Incheon, west of Seoul, are still banned from returning, after having been forced out of the village during the war.

On June 23, former residents of the area marked the 1,000th day of protests calling for their return, while a series of one-man demonstrations in front of the Incheon Metropolitan City building passed the 240-day mark. In addition, residents visited the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae, the Ministry of Government Affairs and Home Administration and the National Assembly, tearfully appealing for their return, but the government has not yet responded.

At a June 24 press conference, the former residents, who were forced to leave Wolmido as children, but are now in their 70s or 80s, called on the government to let them live out the remainder of their lives in their hometown. In addition, they demanded that the government investigate civilian massacres carried out by U.S. military air strikes and napalm bombs during the war.

Han In-deok, 64, head of the Committee for the Return of Wolmido Residents, organized largely by those displaced from Wolmido, said, “At that time, then mayor Pyo Yang-mun pledged that we could return to our hometown after the war. But now, the related government ministries, including the Ministry of Defense, are delaying our return, citing the lack of a proper deed, which could prove our claim. But we will fight until we can reclaim our stolen rights by doing all that we can, including holding a rally in front of the U.S. Embassy,” Han said.

According to remarks by the former residents, four U.S. military airplanes appeared over Wolmido on the dawn of September 13, 1950. The airplanes bombarded the costal area with fuel cans and napalm bombs, turning Wolmido into a sea of fire. Residents who were sleeping at the time were burnt to death, while others rushed to escape to nearby areas.

At the time the residents were forced out of the area, about 300 residents were living in some 80 homes. While approximately half of the residents died during the 1950-53 Korean War, the remaining residents were not able to return to Wolmido because the military remained stationed there.

After U.S. troops were withdrawn in 1971, the South Korean Navy was permanently stationed at Wolmido. In August 2001, the city of Incheon purchased Wolmido from the Ministry of Defense and is now building a park there.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

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