In recognition of Lee & Ko’s success in procuring formal recognition of “Person of National Merit” status for a civilian worker who was killed in battle during the Korean War, Lee & Ko has received the “2019 Korea Law Firm Public Service Award.” By bringing to light an erroneous decision previously made by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (“MPVA”), Lee & Ko attorneys SeokPyo Hong and Heesung Woo, as members of Lee & Ko’s Pro Bono/Public Service Committee, were able to obtain formal recognition of the sacrifice made by an individual who had been felled by a bullet while working on a battle supply line as a member of the “A-Frame Army” (a nickname given to civilian workers in the Korean Service Corps who performed logistics/supply tasks for military units engaged in battle). As a result of the efforts of these attorneys, acting on behalf of the surviving family members of the individual in question, a court decision was obtained ordering that the deceased be officially registered as a “Person of National Merit.” Such status can qualify surviving family members for certain benefits provided by law.
During the Korean war, civilian workers assigned to the “A-Frame Army” braved many of the same dangers as soldiers in carrying out their job of supplying front-line units engaged in battle with the enemy, often carrying heavy supplies on “a-frame” racks strapped to their backs. As conscripted civilians, however, they were not formally included in the military records that have been commonly relied upon in connection with registering individuals as Persons of National Merit. Accordingly, due to evidentiary problems, it has been difficult to obtain recognition of such status for non-military personnel. Lee & Ko’s attorneys solved this problem by obtaining testimony from a person who had witnessed the battlefield death of the individual in question. This process was complicated by the MPVA taking the position that the witness was not mentally competent due to his advanced age. However, Lee & Ko was able to prove to the court’s satisfaction that the MPVA’s assessment of the witness’s mental health was incorrect.
Pursuant to the positive precedent set by Lee & Ko’s success in this case, surviving members of other civilian workers who died serving their country in battle may now expect to obtain similar recognition for their deceased loved ones.