‘National Defense Remembered in Koreans’ Heart in June’

The government invites a large number of Korean War veterans from UN forces countries on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the war’s outbreak

This June is more significant than any other month as the nation observes Memorial Day on June 6 and celebrates the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, a tragic fratricidal war. In particular, the recent sinking of the ROK Navy corvette Cheonan has revived the memories of the war, which was almost consigned to oblivion among the hearts of many South Korean people, as they are shocked by the incident that was a breach of national security by North Korea. Kim Yang, minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA), said, “In June, we should not only pay tribute to the deceased patriots and veterans, but also never forget the fact that UN forces participated in the Korean War to defend the freedom of the ROK.”
He said in an interview with NewsWorld, “We, who lead an affluent, feted life in this flourishing land, should ruminate on the noble sacrifices by the veterans who lie in state on these alien, bleak fields or their national unknown hillsides and the souls of the deceased heroes.”












The minister cited a line of a poem by Han Yong-un, a renowned Korean poet and freedom fighter against Japanese colonial rule, that reads: “In order to attain freedom, my life will be considered a trivial thing, and sacrifices will be endured to defend freedom. In reality, freedom and peace should be a demand from all mankind.”


























“When society creates an environment in which the people who sacrificed themselves in the name of the national community are honored, national power can be concentrated and further built up, so rewarding for sacrifices to the state can be the key for integrating people and ensuring national growth. If a lack of such a reward cannot promote national patriotism, national security can be endangered, so rewarding and supporting veterans and patriots are directly linked to national security,” he said.











The United States and other global powers have systems for rewarding and supporting those who made sacrifices and contributions for the state. The honoring and respecting of veterans and patriots is very important to the extent that even the capital of each state is designed with the installation of facilities designed to provide their medical care and support. For these countries, rewarding and supporting veterans and patriots plays a pivotal role in national integration and national development. They do not just hold Memorial Day or other anniversary events, but strive to make them an opportunity to shore up national unity. Statues and other memorial monuments in honor of those who were killed while serving for their nation or other facilities for veterans and patriots are also built in order to muster national power. Even the UN forces countries have built monuments to celebrate their participation in the Korean War and honor the spirit of those who were killed during the war.










In France, there is a flame for honoring the unknown heroes in front of the Arc de Triomphe that burns all year round. It has become a precedent for any head of on a state visit pays tribute at the site. The copper plate commemorating French soldiers’ participation in the Korean War is on the ground of the gate.






















The MPVA minister said, “Even though we consider the Korean Was as a fratricidal war, we must keep in mind the fact that many soldiers from the UN forces countries participated in the war of a country of which they had never known or heard. Those who have revisited South Korea at the invitation of the government have numbered about 25,000 during the period between 1975 and 2009.”
“Today’s diplomacy is not just limited to such diplomats as ambassadors and ministers abroad, but if there are many celebrities who are on friendly terms or have a good knowledge of the ROK, it could be a huge invaluable diplomatic asset. The war is a sad thing in the historical perspective; the soldiers from the 21 UN forces countries are kind of our national diplomatic assets.” At that time, he said, 1.94 million soldiers from 21 countries participated in the war, and about 530,000 are still alive, and they consider South Korea as their bloodshed ally.
In the United States, there are such powerful organizations as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Korean War Veterans Association, which have a good influence on Korean-Americans, Kim said.
As this year marks the 60th anniversary of the start of the war, he said, a large number of the UN forces soldiers and bereaved families of those killed in action are invited to build a network with the soldiers and their grandchildren and show them the nation’s 60-year economic strides, thus enhancing Korea’s national standing. Sixty years have passed since the thunderous sound of cannon fire ceased, but for a post-war generation, which accounts for 85 percent of the nation’s population, the reality is that the Korean War is becoming a war forgotten in history, he said. The following are excerpts of the interview between NewsWorld and the MPVA minister, who touched on government policies, including one to reward and support war veterans and patriots on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the war.
Question: A survey conducted by a project planning corps on the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War in 2009 showed that 33 percent of the adult respondents said they had no idea of when the June 25 war broke out. Currently, we’ve forgotten the war. Why do we have to remember the war and will you tell our readers about the background for implementing projects to mark the 60th anniversary of the war?
Answer: That’s a sad thing. The young generation who did not live through the sufferings of the war have forgotten the fact that what the Republic of Korea is today has been built on the noble sacrifices by Korean and foreign veterans of the war. In particular, if there were no assistance from the United Nations when the war broke out 60 years ago, it would have been impossible to protect the ROK and liberal democracy.
The soldiers who fought off the invasion numbered about 3.17 million ― 1.27 million ROK armed forces and 1.9 million UN forces. The veterans who are still alive are estimated at 240,000 in Korea and 530,000 abroad. For the surviving war veterans averaging 80 in age, the 60th anniversary year may be the last one to be celebrated in the next decades.
The government’s projects to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the war are designed to help post-war generations awaken the lessons of the tragic war and the sacrifices by the war veterans and extend their gratitude to the veterans in Korea and abroad. The government is also striving to make the anniversary an opportunity to publicize to the world Korea’s miraculous rise from the rubble of the war 60 years ago, thus enhancing the nation’s global standing as well as to develop ties built on the blood of the countries participating in the war into ties based on future partnerships.
Q: We understand that diverse events, including ones to mark the 60th anniversary of the June 25, 1950 outbreak of the Korean War and the Sept. 28 ROK armed forces’ recapture of Seoul from the enemies, are to be held. Will you specify the projects your ministry will implement?
A: In an effort to let post-war generations grasp the meaning of the war veterans’ precious sacrifices, the ministry plans to hold ceremonies in Seoul and regional areas to mark the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War; organize international seminars to shed new light on the historical meaning of the war; publish textbooks and books on the participation of the Korean War; and manage facilities designed to honor patriots and veterans’ sacrifices and produce illustrated books on memorial monuments for 21 UN countries’ participation in the war.
In order to give thanks to the Korean War veterans for their courage and sacrifices and enhance their honor, we plan such programs to make observation tours to Korean War battlefields, search for families of those killed during the war and send thank-you letters to the veterans from President Lee. The ministry is also hosting events to comfort and extend thanks in 21 UN forces countries, arrange for foreign war veterans to revisit Korea and hold youth peace camps.
The MPVA is also organizing military band and honor guard parades in celebration of the armed forces’ recapture of Seoul from invading enemies, supporting the production of dramas and documentaries and hosting concerts in order to help the general public review the meaning of the Korean War and explore what impact it will have in the future. Such regional events as the Pusan International Film Festival in Busan and the Bimok Cultural Festival in Hwacheon, Gangwon-do, will be connected to the celebration of the anniversary of the war.
Q: Modern society needs to review the historical meaning of the Korean War. Will you elaborate on projects your ministry is implementing to shed new light on the war?
A: We’re now discussing how to continuously review the historical meaning of the Korean War via the publication of extra-educational materials, the organization of international academic seminars and the production of documentaries on the UN forces countries’ decision to participate in the war. Renowned scholars from the 21 UN forces countries and experts from foreign veterans organizations and the Korean Ministry of Defense will be invited to international forums to discuss the lessons of the Korean War and the international community’s tasks for ensuring global peace.
Since 2004, the ministry has been publishing historical books on the UN forces countries’ participation in the war, including the United States, the Philippines, Greece, Turkey, Colombia and France. This year, we plan to work on the historical books for Thailand and the Netherlands.
We’re also preparing for special exhibitions to look back on the historical meaning of the Korean War and celebrate the victories of major battles during the war.
Q: The average age of the Korean War veterans is 79.4. For most veterans, the 60th anniversary will be the last one to be held celebrating a decade. Will you be specific on projects to support war veterans in Korea?
A: War veterans are classified as people of national meritorious services to the nation according to an amendment to the Act on the People of National Meritorious Services that went into effect in 2008. Each war veteran is entitled to a monthly allowance of 90,000 won in honor of their participation in the war, a 60 percent discount on medical fees at 308 commissioned hospitals and burial at the National Cemetery at the time of their death. For this year marking the 60th anniversary, which may be the last one to be held every 10 years for most war veterans, the President’s thank-you letter will be sent to all water veterans, while war veterans with third-class injuries will be delivered an extra gift from the President.
Besides, war veterans will be preferentially invited to diverse events being organized by the central and regional governments in celebration of the anniversary.
Q: Twenty-one countries participated in the Korean War at the time. There are many war veterans who could not come over Korea due to their advanced age. How about organizing projects to comfort and extend thanks to the war veterans in the UN forces countries?
A: The Republic of Korea was defended thanks to the assistance of the UN forces countries 60 years ago. War veterans in the UN forces countries can feel pride in their precious sacrifices by comparing what Korea was 60 years ago and what Korea is now. Since 1975, we have in place a program to arrange for revisits by the war veterans from the UN forces counties. Each year about 600 war veterans have been invited for a total of 25,600 who revisited the nation so far. The number of war veterans who were invited for revisit during this year surged to 2,400. As seen with the last reenactment of the Jipyeongri Battle, invited war veterans have visited the battlegrounds on which they fought and encountered their war comrades. The revisiting program continues. Since many war veterans cannot come over to Korea to revisit due to their advanced age, another program to invite their grandchildren and share time with Korean youth will be also pushed ahead to usher in a new era of cooperation in the future.
Korea’s 35 overseas diplomatic missions in the UN forces countries also plan to hold events to comfort and appreciate war veterans. In particular, naval cadets on a training cruise tour are also holding events to console and thank war veterans in seven places in six UN forces countries ― the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia ― where they will make a port call.
Q: For Korea, it is significant to deliver the message of peace when looking back on the Korean War on the occasion of the 60th anniversary. What events has the government prepared to promote peace?
A: True to the theme of the project to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the war, the anniversary’s motif is the Korean and foreign war veterans’ memories and appreciation for their sacrifices. As I mentioned earlier, the diverse projects are designed to not just take a look back at the past, but to awaken the significance of freedom and peace, enhance the ROK’s international standing and take the initiative in ensuring global peace.
The “Thank You” message for war veterans and the UN forces countries and signifying the importance of peace, which will be translated into 13 languages, will be put into major dailies in the 21 UN forces countries and publicized on each country’s internet. Globally recognized musicians and renowned Korean-born people will be invited to the “peace concerts” to attract the eyes of the world. Korean youth will be given an opportunity to tour the Demilitarized Zone to experience the significance of freedom and peace.
Q: Diverse projects are suitable to deliver the theme of the 60th anniversary programs ― “Remembrance & Inheritance, Appreciation & Honor, Harmony & Cooperation.” Will you tell us about medical services being organized by Korean civic groups and a public officials’ scholarship program?
A: Since 2001, such civilian medical groups as the Korea Medical Service Team Abroad and the Korea Open Doctors Society have provided free medical services to war veterans and their families in the UN forces countries and poor nations, including Ethiopia, the Philippines, Turkey, India, Thailand, South Africa and Colombia. The medical groups have conducted medical services on a total of 16 occasions in six countries, including four times in Ethiopia during the period between 2001 and 2009. They will continue the programs in the years to come. The scholarship program is designed to provide support to the grandchildren of war veterans in the UN forces countries through voluntary donations of less than 1,000 won, a fraction of their monthly pay, by public officials. With the MPVA taking the initiative this past January, 34 government agencies, including the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Defense, participated in the program and collected 120 million own. Scholarships will be provided to four countries, including the Philippines, Thailand and Colombia from June.
Q: Will you comment in connection to the projects celebrating the 60th anniversary of the war?
A: We never forget the fact that what Korea is today was built on the noble sacrifices of the war veterans. The government is striving to make the anniversary projects an opportunity to imbue post-war generations with pride, extend thanks to the war veterans and deliver the ROK’s image of contributing to global peace.
We expect you to provide your concern and support to the implementation of the anniversary projects and send thanks to the people of the UN forces countries whenever you happen to meet them.
We also ask for parents of youth to tour memorial facilities enshrining the persons of meritorious services to the nation and take the time to talk with your children on the significance of freedom and peace. nw

(left) President Lee Myung-bak burns incense at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong during a ceremony to mark the 55th anniversary of Memorial Day on June 5. Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kim Yang speaks during the official ceremony.

(left) Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kim Yang poses with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after delivering a thank-you plaque to the latter for the UN forces’ participation in the Korean War on March 6. Korean War veterans salute the national flag during the anniversary event on June 25, 2009.

(top) Minister Kim delivers a thank-you plaque to the ROK-US Combined Forces Command for the U.S. participation in the war. Kim speaks before U.S, soldiers stationed in Korea.

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kim Yang delivers a thank-you plaque to the ambassadors of UN forces countries who fought in the Korean War, including (seen from left) the French ambassador, the Dutch ambassador and Ethiopian ambassador in Korea.

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kim holds a monthly session to give thanks to the veterans of the UN forces countries who fought in the war on Feb. 12,; MPVA Vice Minister Woo Moo-seog has a meeting with the Korean consulate generals of the UN forces countries of the war on Feb. 23.; and Foreign Korean War veterans who are unable to come to Korea due to their advanced age are invited to events to thank them for their participation in the war at the overseas Korean embassies.

(top left, clockwise) The award Seoul Veterans Award ceremony on June 9, 2009,; The award 8th Exemplary Wives Award ceremony,; Winners of the 32nd Filial Son and Filial Daughter-in-law Award on June 16, 2009,; Minister Kim comforts one of the patients who received medical treatment at the Veterans’ Hospital on June 6, 2009.; The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans holds a ceremony to launch a scholarship for the descendants of Korean War veterans.; and Minister Kim presents an award to an essay contest winner.

(from top) An event to honor and comfort exemplary soldiers last June, and a meeting of the members of the committee to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.

Courtesy on the MPVA