Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
Walk Together, HanmiGlobal honor Ethiopian veterans of Korean War
Walk Together Chairman Kim Jong-hoon, left, poses with Tilahun Tessema Game, a 100-year-old Korean War veteran, during his visit to Seoul to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the war, Wednesday. Courtesy of Walk Together
By Lee Min-hyung
Walk Together, a nonprofit organization supporting the physically disadvantaged, partnered with HanmiGlobal to host a special event honoring Ethiopian veterans of the Korean War and their families.
The event was held in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War, which was on Wednesday. The construction project management firm and the nonprofit organized the reception to pay their respects to veterans and their families.
The attendees included Tilahun Tessema Game, a 100-year-old veteran who fought on the front lines in Gangwon Province in 1952. Also present was Senbeta Mamite Hunde, 73, the daughter of a soldier who fell during the war.
For Tessema, this marked his first return to Korea in 73 years.
Walk Together Chairman Kim Jong-hoon, who also chairs HanmiGlobal, delivered a welcoming address and presented plaques of appreciation to the veterans and their families.
“I joined the Korean War at a young age and fought fiercely,” Tessema said. “Seeing how far Korea has come brought tears to my eyes. I am truly grateful for the support from Walk Together and the warm welcome I have received.”
Walk Together helped improve Tessema’s quality of life by installing an indoor toilet and water tank in his home in Ethiopia. Previously, he had to walk some 200 meters to access basic sanitation.
The social organization has been actively engaged in international development cooperation projects for people with disabilities and vulnerable communities overseas. It has completed housing improvement projects for more than 100 families of war veterans or individuals with disabilities in countries such as Vietnam, Ethiopia, Turkey and the Philippines.
“We express our heartfelt gratitude to the Ethiopian veterans and their families for their sacrifice for Korea,” Kim said. “We hope for a swift end to all wars around the world, and will continue supporting Ethiopian veterans, their families and neighboring communities.”
Walk Together was founded in 2010 with the mission of creating a warm world without disabilities.