Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea opens welfare center for Korean War veterans in Ethiopia

Ministry of National Defense built a welfare center in Addis Ababa, EthiopiaEquipped with conference rooms, classrooms and kitchen facilitiesSponsored by Lotte Group – scholarship delivered 

On November 12, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense announced that the ministry had held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a welfare center dedicated to Korean War veterans in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, on November 11 (local time). The ceremony was held in keeping with “Turn Toward Busan,” an international memorial event to pay a tribute to UN veterans who sacrificed their lives to defend freedom and peace during the Korean War.

Marking the 60th anniversary of the armistice in 2013, the Republic of Korea launched a project to build welfare centers in countries that participated in the Korean War under the sponsorship of Lotte Group. The first welfare center for war veterans was established in Bangkok, Thailand in March 2014.

The welfare center in Ethiopia is the third of its kind, following the second in Bogota, Colombia in October 2017. The two-story, 729-square-meter building has conference rooms, classrooms, multi-purpose halls, and kitchen facilities. 

The ceremony was attended by approximately 250 persons, including Director General for Health and Welfare of the Ministry of National Defense Cho Kyung-ja and Korean ambassador in Ethiopia Lim Hun-min, representing the Republic of Korea, while deputy mayor of Addis Ababa Takele Uma Banti, president of the Korean War Veterans Association of Ethiopia Melese Tessema, veterans and their families were in attendance from Ethiopia. The event opened with a progress report and was followed by a congratulatory address, a signing of a certificate of donation, and a luncheon with war veterans. The Lotte Group made an additional gesture of gratitude to the veterans by delivering a scholarship of 18 million won to 50 descendants of the veterans.

Ethiopia is the only country in Africa that dispatched ground forces to Korea during the Korean War. With their characteristic bravery, the Ethiopian forces achieved remarkable results in the front lines as well as in the Battle of Triangle Hill. Ethiopia sent 3500 soldiers to Korea, of which 122 died in action and more than 536 were wounded. “We hope the welfare center will be used to enhance the welfare of veterans and to support education for their descendants. We are certain that the welfare center will serve as momentum to further strengthen the ties between our two countries,” Director General Cho said.

By Byeong-No, Yun <trylover@dema.mil.kr >

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