Rhee Ken 'expects to be arrested' upon his return to Korea

Novoye Vremya, a Ukrainian weekly, uploaded an interview with special forces officer-turned-YouTuber Rhee Ken on its website. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Rhee Ken, a Korean YouTuber and former Korean Navy special warfare officer who went to Ukraine in March to fight Russia, said he “expects to be arrested at the airport when he goes back to Korea” during an interview with a Ukranian news outlet.

Novoye Vremya, a Ukrainian weekly, uploaded an interview with Rhee on its website Saturday. The weekly introduces Rhee as a former special forces officer who worked for the United States and United Nations, now a military consultant and YouTuber with 800,000 subscribers who has been on a popular military-related show.

In the interview, Rhee claims he was injured while fighting the Russian forces in Irpin, Ukraine and is currently saying at a military hospital.

According to Rhee, although his family was against him joining the war against Russia, that did not stop him.

“I saw what was happening on TV,” he said. “I could tell who were the good guys and bad guys. I thought it would be wrong for me, who has the skills that could be helpful here as a former member of special forces, to do nothing and simply watch TV. I thought it would be a crime, so I came here.”

Nonetheless, Rhee expects legal repercussions if he is to return to Korea.

“It’s illegal under Korean law to be in Ukraine now,” he said. “If I go back, I’ll be arrested at the airport because I participated in the war. I am planning to receive many official documents from the Ukrainian government, and I hope this helps my trial.”

The government implemented a travel ban on Korean citizens traveling to Ukraine from Feb. 13. By law, anyone who disobeys a government travel ban can be sentenced to up to a year in prison or face a fine of up to 10 million won ($8,290).

“Although I may face prison, I believe I made the right decision,” he continued. “I am glad to be here changing the situation in Ukraine and working with the Ukrainian forces.”

Rhee added that about 10 Koreans were on the battlefield in the early stages of the war, but only a few remain.

The cold weather, which led one of his colleagues to suffer hypothermia, and lack of diverse nutrition are the biggest problems they face, according to Rhee.

“I believe this is a world war,” he added. “Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't someone who gives up easily, and Ukraine isn’t giving up either. I believe the war will continue for quite a while.”

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]