Dongwon honors Korean War veterans in US
Dongwon Enterprise Vice Chairman Park In-gu, back row center, with StarKist CEO Andrew Choe, back row left, and Korean War veterans living in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, after a luncheon at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square, Wednesday (local time). Since 2008, when Dongwon acquired StarKist, the largest U.S. tuna canner, it has been organizing a luncheon and other events to honor Korean War veterans in the United States. / Courtesy of Dongwon Group
By Lee Hyo-sik
Dongwon Group invited 170 war veterans in the United States and their families to a luncheon, Wednesday, to honor their sacrifice in defending South Korea against the North during the brutal three-year Korean War (1950-53).
Dongwon Enterprise Vice Chairman Park In-gu flew to Pittsburgh to host the event, expressing his gratitude to the Korean War veterans residing in western Pennsylvania on behalf of Dongwon Group Chairman Kim Jae-chul and thousands of Dongwon employees.
StarKist CEO Andrew Choe also attended the luncheon, pledging that his Pittsburgh-based company will continue to organize a range of events to honor the veterans.
“When you all fought in the war, I was only seven years old. All I remember was we were stricken by hunger and poverty,” Park told the veterans and their family members. “All the prosperity Koreans now enjoy has been possible thanks to your sacred sacrifice. We sincerely thank you all and will never forget what you did for Korea.”
On behalf of the veterans, Larry Bickar, the head of the Korean War Veterans of Western Pennsylvania, said, “Today is a time to enjoy the camaraderie and to be honored and appreciated for our service. And on behalf of the Korean War Veterans of Western Pennsylvania, we greatly appreciate the kindness and respect that is shown to us for serving our country.”
A total of 54,200 U.S. servicemen and women died during the Korean War. Of them, 2,401 were from Pennsylvania, suffering the second-highest causalities after California.
Since Chairman Kim hosted the first luncheon in 2010, the group has been organizing the event every year.
According to Dongwon officials, Chairman Kim, who was a high school student when the Korean War began, clearly remembers what it was like and harbors a great deal of gratitude for U.S. service members as Korea’s rags-to-riches story was made possible by their sacrifice.
“Our U.S. affiliate StarKist will continue to host a luncheon and other events for Korean War veterans and their family members, and for the local community,” a Dongwon official said.
Dongwon acquired StarKist in 2008.