Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

"The spirit of the United Nations Korean War veterans will be remembered forever"

Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs holds ceremony to mark United Nations Forces Participation Day

On July 27, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said that the settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula would be the greatest way we can show gratitude for the sacrifices and devotion of United Nations (UN) Korean War veterans.

Chung made the statement in a speech delivered at the ceremony to mark the UN Forces Participation Day, held at Dondaemun Design Plaza (DDP) on Monday. “The sacrifices and devotion of UN Forces Korean War veterans laid the foundation for the freedom, peace and prosperity that exist in the Republic of Korea (ROK) today. The government will work to keep security and peace on the Korean Peninsula, remembering the sacrifices made by the veterans,” Chung said.

“Thanks to the sacrifices and devotion of the UN veterans, the ROK, which was aided by the world, has now become a nation that is able to aid other nations,” Chung added. “Our country is fulfilling its responsibilities as a member of the international community, including peacekeeping operations, recovery from war, and medical aid for 13 countries around the world.”

Chung stressed that “The ROK is also doing its best for global peace and the safety of all people, just as you did 70 years ago,” and went into detail on some activities, such as sending COVID-19 test kits and masks overseas, including to UN nations that participated in Korean War.

Stressing “Just as there are no borders when we are working for the peace of humanity, there are no borders when it comes to rewarding the service of veterans," Chung went on to clarify: “We have established a legal basis to push ahead with the respectable treatment of UN veterans, interchange and cooperation with the UN nations that participated in Korean War in a more systematic way, according to the UN Korean War Veterans’ Dignity and Honor Act enacted in last March.”

Noting that in spite of the sacrifices made by UN troops 70 years ago, the “door to peace” on the Korean Peninsula remained shut, Chung stressed “Sometimes we feel like we have strayed from the path to peace, but we are well aware of the fact that we can’t do anything without peace.” Chung went on to add: “We will make progress in what we can do, and will also find a new way toward building peace. The spirit each of the UN veterans showed us will be eternally remembered in our minds, forever.”

Meanwhile, the UN Forces Participation Day commemoration event, presided over by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA), was attended by some 200 people, including key government officials Prime Minister Chung, Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo and Korean War veterans. With the theme “Days of Glory,” the event was held to express gratitude to the 22 UN countries that fought alongside the ROK and the sacrifices and devotion of 1,950,000 UN troops during the Korean War.

The MPVA enhanced the significance of the ceremony by inviting the descendants of Korean War veterans currently studying in the ROK under government scholarships, on behalf of the UN veterans who could not participate in the ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some other events were also held during the ceremony: A government prize was awarded to some members of the Korean War Veterans Association, including Charlotte O’Kane, who had contributed to working for veterans, and the names of 15 UN troops who died fighting for freedom after the signing of the armistice agreement were called out.

 Reported by Yim Chae-moo <lims86@dema.mil.kr >

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