The Embassy of the Republic of Korea hosted the Facemask Donation Ceremony on Thursday, May 21, in the Korean Embassy.

The event is part of a project by the 70th Anniversary of the Korean War Promotion Project Committee (Chairman: Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun) of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) to provide the Korean War Veterans in 22 countries with masks, as an expression of gratitude for their great bravery and collective sacrifice in the Korean War.

The ceremony was attended by Maeng-ho Shin, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Canada, General (retired) Walt Natynczyk, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, and Mr. Bill Black, President of Unit 7 of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada.

Ambassador Shin echoed its message, noting that “as our two nations did 70 years ago in the war, Korea and Canada shall overcome the COVID-19 crisis together standing side-by-side.” Deputy Minister Natynczyk conveyed a message from the Veterans Affairs Canada Minister Lawrence MacAulay saying, "The Korean War was an important moment in our proud military history. 70 years after that conflict began, this donation from the Republic of Korea is an affirmation of both the gratitude of the Korean people for all that Canadians sacrificed during the War, and of the lasting friendship between our two countries.” Mr. Black thanked the Korean government for the masks by reading the letter of appreciation sent by the MPVA and delivered to Ambassador Shin a plate made by Real Lefreniere, a Korean War veteran who passed away in 2017 at the Perley & Rideau Veterans Health Centre in Ottawa. 

The Korean War was fought from 1950 to 1953. More than 26,000 Canadians served, and sadly, 516 Canadians lost their lives in the conflict.

The total of 35,000 masks will be distributed to the Korean War Veterans across Canada by four Korean diplomatic missions: the Korean Embassy in Ottawa, and the three Consulate General Offices: located in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.