My late father was a career military officer who had served in the Korean War.
In the chaotic aftermath of the war,
he worked in military intelligence and investigative units,
handling internal surveillance, civilian monitoring,
and even regional security.
Within the First Army Command in Gangwon Province,
he was a man of considerable influence.
But that very man would eventually encounter
an event that would ultimately lead him down a path of ruin.
After receiving intelligence that
“fake gasoline” was being distributed across Gangwon Province,
he launched a full-scale investigation.
Soon, he discovered
that the source of the operation
was inside the military itself—
and that high-ranking officers were involved.
As the situation escalated,
those implicated began to apply pressure.
Threats and persuasion followed,
but my father refused to yield.
Then came the final crisis.
One day, while driving home in his assigned jeep,
he was abducted by unidentified soldiers.
He was taken to an empty guard post (GP)
located within the Demilitarized Zone.
There, he was threatened—
told to halt the investigation immediately,
and warned that he would be killed if he continued.
With only a single bottle of water,
he endured nearly a week in confinement.
As days passed without any word from him,
our family sensed that something had gone terribly wrong
and began searching desperately for his whereabouts.
Eventually, they discovered where he was being held.
Unable to secure his release on their own,
they managed to reach the Army Chief of Staff at the time
and informed him of the situation.
Under the protection of that powerful figure,
my father was finally released.
He then proceeded, as originally planned,
to prosecute those involved in the corruption,
and several generals were forced to take off their uniforms.
However—
Not long after,
the May 16 coup d’état broke out.
And in a cruel twist of fate—
The very man who had rescued my father from captivity
and had stood as his protector
rose to the forefront of the new military regime.
Yet within little more than a year,
he was purged and removed from power.
With his fall,
the final shield that had protected my father
disappeared entirely.
And immediately thereafter,
the retaliation began.