Rhee Keun, a former member of South Korean naval special forces who is also known as Ken Rhee, arrives at Incheon international airport, after returning from Ukraine where he served as a volunteer fighter, in Incheon, South Korea, May 27, 2022. Yonhap via REUTERS<\/p>\n
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SEOUL, May 27 (Reuters) - A South Korean volunteer fighter returned home from Ukraine on Friday saying he had to recover from injuries and was ready to face a police investigation on suspicion of breaking the law by defying a government ban on travel to Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Volunteers from around the world have flocked to Ukraine to help it fight Russian forces that invaded on Feb. 24. Russia calls its action in Ukraine a \"special operation\".<\/p>\n
Rhee Keun, a former member of South Korean naval special forces who is also known as Ken Rhee, flew back to South Korea with media broadcasting his return live on television.<\/p>\n
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\"I haven't left the battlefield completely but came to recover from injuries. I want to go back ... because the war has not ended, there's still a lot to do,\" Rhee said at the airport.<\/p>\n
Rhee said he was suffering from cruciate ligament injury in both legs. He was able to walk.<\/p>\n
He said about 10 policemen had been waiting for him as he stepped off the plane and they had told him to quarantine for a week as a COVID-19 precaution, and he would then be summoned for questioning.<\/p>\n
\"I will cooperate in the investigation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A police spokesman was not immediately available for comment. A military spokesman confirmed that Rhee had served in navy special forces.<\/p>\n
Rhee posted pictures and video of his experience in Ukraine on social media.<\/p>\n
South Korea's foreign ministry filed a police complaint against him in mid-March, shortly after he went to Ukraine, on charges of violating a passport act.<\/p>\n
South Korea banned its nationals from travelling to Ukraine in February for safety reasons. Under the law, those who defy a ban can be jailed for up to a year or fined 10 million won ($8,000).<\/p>\n
Rhee said Ukraine had offered him citizenship and even land but he had declined.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think it's right to take citizenship to avoid a fine or trial,\" he said.<\/p>\n
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Reporting by Joori Roh;Editing by Robert Birsel<\/p>\n
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.<\/p>\n
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Injured South Korean fighter back from Ukraine faces investigation - Reuters<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rhee Keun, a former member of South Korean naval special forces who is also known as Ken Rhee, arrives at Incheon international airport, after returning from Ukraine where he served as a volunteer fighter, in Incheon, South Korea, May 27, 2022. Yonhap via REUTERS Register SEOUL, May 27 (Reuters) - A South Korean volunteer fighter returned home from Ukraine on Friday saying he had to recover from injuries and was ready to face a police investigation on suspicion of breaking the law by defying a government ban on travel to Ukraine Continue reading