This is the fourth in a series of articles to mark the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. The Korea Times interviewed Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kim Yang. _ ED.
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff reporter
From one of the world's poorest countries to an economic power now at the center of the world stage, South Korea has undergone dramatic developments over the past six decades.
Without the help and sacrifice of foreign nations and their soldiers, however, that miracle would never have been possible, a South Korean official in charge of veterans' affairs said.
"About 1.94 million troops from 16 nations, including the U.S., the U.K. and France, participated in the Korean War. Of them, some 40,000 were killed and 120,000 were injured or missing in action," Kim Yang, minister of patriots and veterans affairs, said in a written interview with The Korea Times. "The solemn sacrifice and support of war veterans, who fought under the U.N. flag have made the Republic of Korea one of the world's most prosperous nations."
Kim is a grandson of independence fighter Kim Gu (1876-1949). His father, Kim Shin, is a former Air Force chief of staff who participated in the Korean War as an F-51 Mustang pilot, the first fighter of the ROK Air Force.
"From the ashes of the war, the Republic of Korea is on its way to taking center stage of the world. The government will take the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War as an occasion to show the international community that the nation that you fought to protect has developed like this and now will return your help," Kim said.
Twenty-one nations under the U.N. flag sent their combat and medical troops to fight alongside South Korea against North Korea backed by China. The foreign nations also provided South Korea with aid for postwar reconstruction.
Co-led by Prime Minister Chung Un-chan and former Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo, the organizing body plans to hold a total of 41 events this year to mark the anniversary.
The ministry has been hosting a program for 2,400 Korean War veterans abroad to revisit the nation. About 300 war veterans and their families from nine nations _ the U.S., the U.K., Greece, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, New Zealand and Luxemburg _ were invited to attend events to commemorate what is often called "The Forgotten War."
"The revisit program and ceremonies taking place in those participating countries are part of our efforts to deliver the South Korean people's deep thanks to the sacrifice of foreign war veterans," said Kim.
The ministry began holding war memorial ceremonies at the 21 participating nations earlier this month in cooperation with the governments concerned. The ROK Navy warships will also visit seven ports in six nations, such as the U.S., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines and Thailand.
Most ceremonies will be held at meaningful places related to the Korean War, ministry officials said.
In the Netherlands, a ceremony was held at the post of the Regiment Van Heutsz, a Dutch infantry unit that took part in the war.
On June 25, a ceremony is to be held on HMS Belfast, a museum ship moored in London on the River Thames. HMS Belfast was a Royal Navy warship involved in the Korean War.
In France, Korean War memorial events are to take place at the Arc de Triomphe and Les Invalides in Paris.
To commemorate the truce agreement signed by the U.S.-led United Nations, North Korea and China, a Korean War memorial ceremony is scheduled to be held at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. July 26.
"Capitol Hill is a very symbolic and meaningful place for the Korean War because a historic decision to send American troops to South Korea was made at that place," Kim said. "Because of the U.S. government's swift and bold decision, the U.S. coalition forces were formed and able to protect South Korea."
The ceremony will be held with the attendance of U.S. war veterans, former and incumbent lawmakers who fought in the Korean War and senior officials of the Barack Obama administration, he said.
Throughout the three-year war, the United States dispatched 1,789,000 troops to South Korea, which is more than 90 percent of the total coalition forces involved in the war. About 37,000 troops were killed and some 92,000 were injured, according to government data. About 3,730 were missing in action, while 4,400 were held by communist forces as prisoners of war (POWs).
As the Korean War ended in a truce, not a permanent peace treaty, the two Koreas technically remain at war.
In a show of deep appreciation of sacrifices and contributions of the 21 U.N. nations, the government will publish a full-page advertisement of a "Thank You" notice in 30 newspapers of the 21 countries.
The notice reads, "Peace, prosperity and liberties that we cherish today are built on your selfless sacrifices and contributions. Korea is forever indebted and we will continue to build the trust and friendship between our nations." The message will be translated into 13 different languages.
In addition, President Lee Myung-bak will send a letter of appreciation to 100,000 foreign Korea War veterans.
The ministry launched a scholarship program for children of foreign Korean War veterans from countries such as Ethiopia, Thailand, the Philippines and Colombia. It signed an accord with the non-governmental organization World Together in February and started offering scholarships from March.
The scholarships are raised with a collection of "pin money" voluntarily offered by government officials. About 100 million won ($852,000) was collected as of May with officials at 34 government ministries, agencies and offices.
"This program is very meaningful in the sense we are able to financially repay the nations that fought for us during the war six decades ago and thereby strengthen ties with our previous and future allies," the minister said.
Minister Kim said the government would put an emphasis on ceremonies to be held on Sept. 28 to commemorate the U.N. forces' recapturing of Seoul during the war.
"Until now, we've focused on ceremonies to remember the outbreak of the Korean War, but now we need to show to the world that South Korea will contribute to the international community from the future-oriented standpoints," he said.
"Sept. 28 is the day when U.N. forces dramatically turned the tide following the landmark Incheon landing operations," Kim said.
"It will be very meaningful that we commemorate the day's delight, reenact its emotions and share the need of peace. In that context, we would have an opportunity through Sept. 28 ceremonies to declare our firm resolution to defend the freedom, peace in the world."
In 1950 when the combined forces of the U.S. and South Korea were pushed back to the Nakdong River by the North Koreans, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, commander of the U.N. forces in Korea, wanted to create a breakthrough in the crisis by driving the enemy out of the peninsula and finishing the war.
A total of 75,000 South Korean and U.S. Marines and Army service members took part in the renowned Incheon Landing Operation. In addition, 11 naval ships, six aircraft carriers and a total of 261 battleships of the combined forces participated during the 48 hours between Sept. 13 and 15.
The success of the Incheon Landing Operations enormously contributed to shaping conditions for a counterattack, turning the tide of the war and blocking enemy communication lines.
A native of Daegu, Kim Yang, 57, studied at middle and high schools in Taiwan between 1962 and 1972.
He graduated from the department of political science and diplomacy at Yonsei University in Seoul and received a Ph. D. in international relations from the George Washington University.
He later worked with the European defense group, EADS, and other private companies before being appointed as consul general of Shanghai in 2005.
Kim was named as minister of patriots and veterans affairs in March 2008.