Filipino and Thai Korean War Veterans

By Kwon Yule-jung

Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Kim Yang recently traveled to the Philippines and Thailand to unveil Korean War memorials and extend gratitude to their war veterans on behalf of all Koreans.

A lady staff member accompanying him was moved by their long-standing affection for Korea for which they once sacrificed their youth for the defense of free democracy in the early 1950s.

When a Filipino veteran in his 80s admitted to a veterans' hospital in Manila was greeted by Minister Kim, he also saluted him in strict military style despite the terminal stage of his illness.

The war veteran was unable to hear the minister try to communicate with him or understand what he said. Nevertheless, he might have to understand what the minister intended to speak of.

After completing their duties in the Philippines, they headed to the second and last leg of their itinerary spanning a short period of four days. They hosted a reception at a hotel in Bangkok for Thai war veterans who were also active in the military campaign during the Korean War.

To their amazing surprise, they sang the two songs, ``Arirang'' and ``Spring of Hometown.'' The octogenarian veterans showed their harmonious rhythm in their perfect memory of lyrics of the two songs which represent Koreans' emotions.

The delegates were excited to sing along with them. Those present at the party were able to communicate with each other despite language barriers.

The two Asian countries sent their combat troops to the Korean Peninsula to defend South Korea from the brutal attack of the invading North. It showed that their national power had been much stronger than that of South Korea in the 1950s.

Without their support during the conflict, South Korea would have been deprived of basic rights of freedom and even survival under the notorious communist regimes for 60 years and beyond. It is time for us to sincerely appreciate their dedication to South Korea.

The South Korean veterans ministry has already helped the two countries erect memorial towers in their capitals. The ministry has also built or is in the process of setting up monuments in the other countries which dispatched combat troops and medical provisions to South Korea during the war.

During a visit to the United States for the U.N. General Assembly and the G20 summit last month, President Lee Myung-bak and first lady Kim Yun-ok met many American Korean War veterans. They received a greater welcome from the veterans than any other groups including Koreans living in the States.

The American veterans still have a vivid memory of a Korea which was laid to ashes, and feel proud of the nation's emergence as an economic giant and standard-bearer of free democracy.

Not only American veterans but others may regard the South Korean head of state as no less than their chief executive. Actually many of the war veterans revealed their incessant affection for the Land of Morning Calm. Their recollection of warfare activities and love for Korea hopefully can promote peace and reconciliation beyond religion, race, ideology and national boundaries.

Kwon Yule-jung is director general of the memorial affairs bureau at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. He can be reached at england6227@hanmail.net.