Marking the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War this week, President Lee Myung-bak plans to formally express gratitude to 21 foreign countries for dispatching troops to help his country fight against the invading North Korea, Lee's office said Monday.
"President Lee will contribute to influential dailies in the 21 nations this week to deliver a message of gratitude," Kim Eun-hye, spokeswoman for presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, told reporters.
She said the 21 nations include the U.S., Britain, Turkey, Canada, Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Colombia, Greece, Thailand, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Belgium and Luxemburg which sent combat troops during the three-year civil war.
The other five -- Norway, Denmark, India, Italy and Sweden -- dispatched medical aid units.
"In the contribution, titled 'Fulfilled Promise: The Republic of Korea After 60 Years,' President Lee will thank the countries for the troop dispatch and express South Korea's will to play an active role as a member of the international community," Kim said.
"But the contents of the contributions will vary slightly, as each country has different significance in terms of bilateral relations (with South Korea) and a specific area where it dispatched troops," she added.
The first contribution was carried in the Bangkok Post, a major Thai newspaper, in its Monday edition. Thailand was the first Asian nation to send troops to combat alongside South Korea during the war. The number of Thai troops dispatched totaled 6,326 and there were 1,273 casualties among them.
"The Korean War left the country in complete ruins. But the Thai soldiers helped us lay the foundation for freedom. We have always remembered their noble sacrifices; we did our best to keep the pledge of never letting their sacrifices be in vain," the president wrote. "Koreans are proud of the achievements made by the republic over the years, and we also hope that the people of Thailand feel equally proud."
"Once again, I offer my heartfelt gratitude for the selfless friendship Thailand showed us 60 years ago. The Korean people will never forget the valiant Thai warriors who fought in defense of freedom in the Republic of Korea (ROK)," he added, using the South's official name.
Lee pointed out that the Korean Peninsula remains divided, with military tensions running high especially since the North's torpedo attack on a South Korean corvette in March that killed 46 sailors.
But South Korea is still committed to efforts to bring lasting peace to the peninsula, he said.
"The goal of the ROK's North Korea policies is not to confront the North but to persuade Pyongyang to alter its wrong course of action. Our ultimate objective is to bring about peace and stability on the peninsula as well as achieve co-prosperity and peaceful reunification of the Korean nation," he said.