South Korea to Expand Compensation for Descendants of Independence Fighters

The revised Act on the Honorable Treatment of Persons of Distinguished Service to Independence will provide regular compensation payments to second-generation descendants, regardless of when their forebears died. Previously, since 1973, the law allowed payments only to spouses and children of independence heroes, and to one grandchild if the fighter died before Korea's liberation on August 15, 1945.

In cases where first-generation descendants are no longer alive, compensation was limited to direct descendants. The revised law removes these eligibility restrictions. If implemented, more than 2,300 descendants are expected to be added to the list of eligible recipients, the ministry said.

The revised act was approved at a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day. It will be promulgated before the end of this month and come into force on January 1, 2027. >"The revision reflects the government's commitment to fulfilling its responsibility for the descendants." — Veterans Minister Kwon Oh-eul The ministry provided this statement in a release.