THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE KOREAN WAR COMMEMORATION COMMITTEE

As this year marks the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is conducting a Revisit Korea Program in a bid to express gratitude to the UN Korean War veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices and to solidify friendly relations with the UN allies.

On May 10, 2010, the UN Korean War veterans from the US and Thailand and their family members were invited to Korea. About 80 invitees arrived in Korea on May 10 and returned home on May 15. During their stay in Korea, they had a battlefield tour and visited war memorials, the National Cemetery and the Folk Village. They also attended a dinner banquet on May 11, which was hosted by Minister of Unification Hyun  In-Taek. Minister Hyun presented a framed Thank you Message to the Korean War veterans in an effort to express our gratitude for their service in the Korean War.

The US dispatched the largest number of troops to the Korean War. In the Battle of Lake Jangjin, the US suffered a heavy loss, but successfully fought against the enemy.   With the US troops playing a pivotal role in the battle, the UN forces seized a chance for a counteroffensive and were able to lead the war from that time.

Thailand was the first to assist Korea among Asian countries. The bravery of the Thai soldiers was explicitly demonstrated in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. In this battle, the Chinese forces attacked the hill three times, but Thai soldiers successfully defended the hill by fighting hand-to-hand with the enemy and conducting counter strikes. After the  battle, the other UN allies gave the Thai soldiers a nickname, “Little Tiger.”

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has invited the UN Korean War veterans and their families to Korea since 1975 in an effort to thank and honor the veterans and to introduce the remarkable development of Korea to the whole world. An estimated number of 26000 participants visited Korea through the program as of 2009. The Ministry is planning to increase the number of invitees this year in commemoration of  the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. This year, they are planning to invite about 2400 veterans from the 21 UN allies from April through November.