In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War commemoration, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs(Minister Park, Sung Choon) dispatched a governmental delegation consisting of 3 public officers, Information Division Manager Mr. Kim Kyeong-hwan and two officers of the Ministry of Defense, to the scholarship presentation ceremony held in Colombia.

100 elementary, middle and high school students, and 10 university students were given scholarships, a total combined worth of 28 million won($ 25000) at 10 AM, Wednesday, on March 23, 2011 in Colombia.

The scholarship program for the descendents of the UN Korean War Veterans was initiated with the fund collected from a small donation from the monthly income of the public officers working for the central and local governments. The scholarship fund is intended to support descendents of the UN Korean War Veterans in Ethiopia, Colombia and Thailand. It is a part of efforts to pay back to those nations which extended help to our nation 60 years ago in the face of the communist threat and provocations.

The Korean government is planning to carry on the scholarship program until 2013 which marks the 60th anniversary of the armistice agreement to further provide assistance to those young descendents of the UN Korean War Veterans in a low income bracket. It is anticipated this endeavor will provide more opportunities for young descendents and contribute to the future-oriented relationships with the UN allied nations.

*Government press release (May 18)