Will final dream be fulfilled?

John Pyong-il: Fought for the French. [JoongAng Ilbo]

John Pyong-il, 79 hopes to fulfill the last dream of his life.
His hope is to return to his homeland of Korea before he dies.
Born in 1929 in Hamju, South Hamgyeong Province, in North Korea, John left his home for the army when the Korean War broke out in 1950.
At the time, he moved down to Pohang in South Korea and joined the one of the alliance forces, the French Foreign Legion, Legion étrangére in French.
As the first Korean soldier in the foreign unit, his duty was to deliver war supplies to the French soldiers.
After the Korean War ended in 1953, he could not go to his hometown and see his mother and brothers because the truce line divided Korea into two separate nations: South and North Korea.
He was obliged to stay in the foreign unit and had to leave his country for France.
Wearing a French military uniform, Jeon participated in several wars in Vietnam and Algeria.
“I had no choice because I lost my livelihood,” he said. “I followed a French commissioned officer blindly.”
After completing four years of continuous service in the unit that was established in 1831, the foreign soldier was qualified to obtain French citizenship.
He also won a medal as a soldier.
However, John said fellow soldiers made a false accusation against him, leading to a one-year prison sentence.
Thus, he was deprived of his right to maintain his French citizenship.
After being released from prison, he worked at a wheat flour factory as a truck driver for 10 years.
In addition, he learned baking skills in 1972.
He is frustrated that he can’t return to his roots. Korean government officials say they can’t issue a passport for him because he has no citizenship.
“I lost my home country while I fought for France,” Jeon said. “I want to pass away in my home country. Please issue a passport for me.”

By Jeon Jin-bae JoongAng Ilbo [spark@joongang.co.kr]