"Our Youth Was Stolen": 90-Year-Old Korean War Child Soldiers File 100 Million Won Lawsuit

Surviving child soldiers of the Korean War and their bereaved families have filed a damages lawsuit against the state.

According to legal circles on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Jang Seong-gon (93) and Park Tae-seung (93), who served as child soldiers during the Korean War, along with the bereaved families of the late Jang Byeong-yul and Ha Myeong-yun, filed a state compensation lawsuit with the Daegu District Court today, each seeking 100 million won in consolation money.

The plaintiffs argued, "During the Korean War in 1950, we were minors aged 15 to 17 with no military service obligation, yet we were deployed to the front lines as regular soldiers without any legal basis," adding, "Our youth was stolen and our lives were shattered by the unlawful exercise of public power."

The plaintiffs' side explained that this is the first state compensation lawsuit filed following the "truth-finding decision" on human rights violations against child soldiers during the Korean War, issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRCK) on July 9, 2024.

Previously, the TRCK recommended that "it is confirmed that child soldiers, who had no military obligation but were mobilized for the Korean War, suffered social damages such as violations of the right to life, physical and mental harm, and deprivation of the right to education," and that "the state should enact a special law regarding the restoration of honor and compensation for child soldiers to realize substantial recovery of damages."

However, the commission determined that it was "difficult to conclude" that the military service of child soldiers was illegal.

The TRCK further added, "There were approximately 30,000 child soldiers who were mobilized as regular soldiers despite being minors under 18 with no military obligation during the Korean War. While some volunteered, some were effectively coerced into enlistment under the guise of voluntary service."

The decision is effective only for the six applicants, and the four plaintiffs in this lawsuit are all individuals or bereaved families covered by the truth-finding decision.

Attorney Ha Gyeong-hwan, representing the plaintiffs, stated, "The statute of limitations for the state compensation claim has been renewed due to the TRCK's decision, which led us to file this lawsuit," adding, "What these elderly child soldiers truly desire is not monetary compensation, but a sincere apology from the state."

(Photo: Yonhap News / Provided by the ROK Army)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.