Biden Signs Landmark Act: Korean-American Vietnam Veterans Gain VA Benefits

U.S. Representative Mark Takano is speaking at the ‘Reception Commemorating Korean War Veterans and Armistice Day’ held at the Rayburn Building of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C. on July 27 (local time). /Special Correspondent Haman Joo in Washington

About 3,000 Korean-Americans who served in the Korean military during the Vietnam War and later obtained U.S. citizenship will now be eligible for medical benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

President Joe Biden signed the ‘Korean American VALOR Act’ (H.R. 366) on the 13th (local time), which includes this provision, according to the White House. The White House explained that this bill expands certain veterans’ medical and benefit eligibility to specific members of the Korean military.

Under U.S. federal law 38, the Department of Veterans Affairs has been able to provide such benefits to citizens of European Union countries who fought alongside the U.S. in World War I and II since 1958. This amendment allows Korean veterans who served in the Vietnam War and now live in America to receive these benefits as well.

This law applies to U.S. citizens who served in Vietnam as members of the Korean military between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or during a period designated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. It mandates providing medical, educational, and vocational services equivalent to those offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to U.S. veterans.

However, medical support is based on reciprocity and requires a reimbursement agreement with the relevant country.

Kim Dong-seok, representative of the Korean American Voters’ Council (KAGC) (from left), Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong to the U.S., and U.S. Representative Mark Takano are attending the ‘Reception Commemorating Korean War Veterans and Armistice Day’ held at the Rayburn Building of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C. on July 27 (local time). /Special Correspondent Haman Joo in Washington

This bill has been proposed several times in the past but failed to pass Congress. This year, it was reintroduced by Representative Mark Takano (California), the Democratic secretary of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, in January. It passed the House on May 22 and was unanimously approved in the Senate on the 19th of last month.

Takano, a third-generation Japanese American, has been showing friendly moves, such as giving a speech at the ‘Reception Commemorating Korean War Veterans and Armistice Day’ held at the Rayburn Building of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C. on July 27.

After the bill passed the House, Takano stated in a press release, “Naturalized Korean American Vietnam War veterans bravely fought alongside their American brothers and sisters but have never received medical service benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.” He praised the bipartisan bill for passing the House, correcting an injustice, and bringing Korean American Vietnam War veterans one step closer to receiving the medical benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs they rightfully deserve.

By. Ha Man Joo