Korea to hold memorial day for UN veterans of Korean War next week
U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, April 30 / Yonhap
South Korea will hold an annual ceremony next week to commemorate the U.N. forces who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War, the veterans ministry said Friday.
The U.N. Veterans International Memorial Day will take place at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan, some 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Tuesday, according to the ministry.
The event will bring together 80 war veterans from 14 countries, including the United States, Britain, Colombia, Turkey and Belgium, and their bereaved family members.
The eldest veteran to participate is Luis A. Garcia Velandia from Colombia, aged 100, who fought in the battle of Old Baldy, alongside the South Korean and U.S. armies, to defeat Chinese troops in June 1952.
During their trip, slated for Saturday to Thursday, the war veterans will pay their respects at the war memorial in Seoul on Sunday as well.