South Korean lawmaker Lee Yong-sun has announced that South Korea will not provide humanitarian assistance for Myanmar’s earthquake victims directly to the military council, but will instead channel aid through international organizations to ensure it reaches the Myanmar people. This statement was made during a hearing on Myanmar affairs at the Korean Parliament on April 10. The hearing was attended by National Unity Government (NUG) Minister for Human Rights U Aung Myo Myint, NUG Representative to the Republic of Korea U Yan Naing Htun, along with Korean parliamentary foreign affairs committee member Lee Yong-sun and Democratic Party lawmakers Jo Jung-sik, Seo Young-seok, Park Hun-bae, Lee Gan-il, Cha Ji-ho, and other officials.
Representative Lee Yong-sun emphasized that South Korea would maintain its foreign policy stance established since the attempted military coup in Myanmar. He stressed that humanitarian aid would not be delivered directly to the military junta but would be channeled through international organizations to ensure it reaches Myanmar’s citizens directly. During the hearing, NUG Minister U Aung Myo Myint presented on the topic ‘Myanmar Between Military Human Rights Violations and Natural Earthquake Disaster.’ He urged the Korean government and parliament to implement several measures, including blocking investments associated with the military junta, prohibiting the supply of military weapons and aviation fuel technology, and ceasing diplomatic relations with the military council.
The minister also called for non-recognition of fraudulent elections, distribution of humanitarian aid through the NUG and local communities rather than cooperation with the military council, protection of Myanmar citizens in Korea, and participation in international prosecution of the military council’s international crimes. South Korean parliamentarians expressed their deep sympathy for Myanmar’s suffering from both the democratic revolution and the recent devastating earthquake. They pledged to stand with the Myanmar people in their pursuit of democracy restoration and promised to actively work to protect Myanmar citizens residing in Korea. The lawmakers made firm commitments to support Myanmar’s democratic movement and ensure the safety and security of Myanmar nationals in South Korea.
