Funeral held for officer killed in  crackdown on illegal Chinese fishing


A ruling party lawmaker has submitted to the National Assembly a resolution urging the Beijing government to apologize for Monday’s killing of a Korea Coast Guard officer and promise to prevent a repeat of the incident, her office said on Wednesday.

Rep. Chung Ok-nim of the Grand National Party proposed the resolution on Tuesday, which was signed by 20 other GNP lawmakers.

It also calls on the Seoul government to bolster equipment and personnel to crack down on illegal fishing in South Korean waters and strengthen punitive measures against illegal, violent fishermen.

China’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret on Tuesday as public outrage over the incident deepened, but fell short of offering an official apology.

Hundreds of people staged a rally condemning China for the incident in Seoul on Tuesday. A Korean man was captured on the same day after attempting to drive his car into the Chinese Embassy in Seoul.

“Over the last five years, two KCG officers have been killed and the number of injuries amounts to 28,” Chung said.

“Through China’s responsible apology and promise to prevent such cases, and strong punitive measures against illegal fishing and violent attackers, we should protect our maritime sovereignty.”

Meanwhile, Korea Coast Guard held a send-off ceremony for its officer killed in the violent clash with illegal Chinese fisherman, while vowing to block any attempt to undermine the country’s maritime sovereignty.

Yoon Gyeong-mi, widow of 41-year-old Sergeant Lee Cheong-ho, burst into tears while putting her arms around their daughter and two sons during the one-hour ceremony at a KCG pier in the western port city of Incheon.

Lee was apparently stabbed to death by the Chinese captain of the 66-ton fishing boat as he and other officers tried to seize the boat operating illegally in South Korea-controlled waters ― some 87 kilometers southwest of Socheongdo at around 7 a.m.

“You were a subject of fear and a symbol of Korea’s governmental power for those engaged in pillaging in our waters with a variety of weapons,” KCG Commissioner General Mo Kang-in said in his eulogy.

“Through strong, strict law enforcement, we will shore up our national sovereignty.”

In a letter read out by his security secretary, President Lee Myung-bak said, “The government will remember the just action of the deceased forever and craft fundamental measures to prevent the repeat of such an incident.”

The government has promoted Lee from corporal to sergeant, and conferred the Aquamarine Stripes Order of Service Merit to him. Lee was laid to rest at Daejeon National Cemetery after the ceremony, which some 800 people attended.

KCG has sought arrest warrants for all nine Chinese sailors. It charged the 42-year-old captain with murdering Lee and obstructing official duties while the rest were charged with obstruction of official duties.

Deliberation on whether to issue the warrants will be held at an Incheon district court on Thursday afternoon. The KCG will carry out an on-site inspection at the scene of the crime in the West Sea on Friday.

After the killing took place, observers expressed concern that it could escalate into a diplomatic row ahead of the 20th anniversary of South Korea-China diplomatic relations.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)