By Kang Seung-woo
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) plans to hold events to commemorate the 60-year alliance between Korea and the United States, an official said, Tuesday.
On Sept. 30, one day before the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty, the ministry will host a commemorative ceremony to be attended by 500 invited guests, including Korean War veterans and representatives of Korean and U.S. military personnel.
As part of the event, a U.S. serviceman who contributes to the alliance will be given a Paik Sun-yup award, named after the nation’s first four-star general.
It also plans to organize a music festival for military personnel and their families on Sept. 16 at Camp Red Cloud, the headquarters of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division, while presenting a joint recital of the Korean National Military Symphony Orchestra and the Eighth Army band on Sept. 27.
In addition, there will be a marathon race on Sept. 28; an academic seminar on the promising perspectives of the alliance on Sept. 30; and a published record of the alliance.
The alliance was forged on Oct. 1, 1953 during the Korean War when nations around the world stood united against North Korea’s aggression and more than 33,600 U.S. service members were killed in the conflict.