Korean arms exports versus military aid to Ukraine

• Published date: 05 March 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

No one expects Korea to take a leading role in helping Ukraine survive Russia's criminal war of aggression. And I should also say that I find Korean public opinion on the issue quite bearable. The most horrible crimes against humanity in Europe since World War II may, seemingly far away, not top people's list of concerns. But I rarely encounter the moral confusion, misinformation mixed with pieces of Putin's propaganda or irresponsible talk of "neutrality" which are spreading even in countries that support Ukraine more actively, not to mention the cynical glee heard from parts of the developing world.

The fact that South Korea is among the very few countries outside Europe, North America and Oceania which have made some sacrifices, materially supporting Ukraine or sanctioning Russia, is not to be belittled as just another expression of the desire to appear on the same page with the world's leading democracies. Korean sympathy for the victimized nation is genuine and deeply rooted in historic experience.

But it has gone nearly unnoticed how illogically, even hypocritically, the South Korean government answers requests for military aid to Ukraine. Western diplomats hinting at the contradiction are told that it is the government's "position not to supply arms to countries engaged in conflict." This means that Ukraine is disqualified as a receiver of weapons made in Korea precisely by actually being invaded. Other countries in central and eastern Europe, seeing themselves "only" threatened by...