x.com/Vit_Ovchar/status/2108643687001436453

Available reporting and South Korean government statements contradict the idea that Seoul objected to the handover itself.

• On March 28, 2026, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Korea and Ukraine had already agreed to continue cooperating on the issue of North Korean POWs in Ukraine, which shows Seoul was participating in arrangements concerning the prisoners rather than protesting their transfer to South Korea.
• After President Zelenskyy later revealed the transfer publicly, Seoul said its complaint was about disclosure, not about receiving the POWs. In a September 29, 2026 briefing, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the two sides had agreed to handle the matter confidentially for the safety of the soldiers and their families, and that Seoul demanded an explanation and apology over Ukraine's "unilateral disclosure" and alleged false denial of that understanding.
• Reuters likewise reported on September 28, 2026 that Seoul demanded an apology because Kyiv had disclosed the transfer despite a prior agreement to keep it confidential.
• Yonhap reported again on October 8, 2026 that South Korea's demand for an apology was over Zelenskyy's disclosure of the transfer and the subsequent denial that there had been an agreement to keep it secret.

So the factual problem is the stated reason for South Korea's backlash. The documented dispute was over the public revelation and alleged breach of confidentiality, not over the mere fact that Ukraine transferred the prisoners to South Korea.