eFM News

The U.S. National Security Council paid tribute to South Korea's first four-star general, Paik Sun-yup, who died Friday at the age of 99.

The NSC said Paik made South Korea the democratic and prosperous country it is today, in a message posted Sunday on its official Twitter account.

It also noted how the late general and other heroes "put everything on the line to defeat Communist invaders in the 1950s."

Paik led troops to several victorious battles against North Korea during the Korean War from 1950-53.

However, he is also seen as a controversial figure due to his service in the Manchuko Imperial Army during Japanese colonial rule, before the Korean War broke out.

He will be laid to rest on Wednesday at Daejeon National Cemetery.