Descendants of Korean War veterans from overseas and Korean students pose for a group photo on July 1 at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Busan.
About 60 descendants of Korean War veterans from overseas and a group of Korean students have proclaimed with one voice that their trip to Korea has been a proud, meaningful journey.
They were all participants in “The Long March of Youth From U.N. Korean War Allied Nations,“ a program for both overseas students from U.N.-allied nations that fought in the Korean War and for Korean students. The Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs under the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs organized the program so that overseas students from U.N.-allied nations that fought in the Korean War and Korean students could build friendships among themselves while traveling around Korea from June 29 to July 4.
Descendants of Korean War veterans from overseas and Korean students lay a wreath at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Busan on July 2.
Program participants began their journey on June 29 travelling from Seoul to Dutayeon Valley in Yanggu-gun County, Gangwon-do Province, one of the fiercest battle sites of the Korean War (1950-1953). They then continued on to Korea's Dokdo and Ulleungdo islands far out in the East Sea, the most eastern points of the nation. While visiting these destinations, they learned about the sacrifices made by war veterans and their ancestors, and shed new light on Korea’s modern development that was built on the foundation of their sacrifices.
Reinard Elvin Talde De Guzman from the Philippines said, “This journey is an opportunity and a privilege at the same time because I am experiencing something which my grandfather, who fought for the Korean War, should have experienced.”
“My father is now 86 years old and has difficulty traveling, so I will tell him about this journey when I get back to Manila,” he added.
Gabrielle Ann Lindig from California said, “Paying tribute at the war monument at Dutayeon Valley was really meaningful as, when I gave a silent salute, it reminded me of the many soldiers who lost their lives in the war,” while mentioning her father who passed away last year. Lindig said that her father participated in the war in 1951, which meant that her whole family is proud to have a strong bond with Korea.
“In 2013, my family joined the Korea revisit program hosted by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and traveled to the Hangang and Nakdong rivers and the Incheon Landing site. This time, however, I am by myself and am participating in the program without him, which is very moving for me,” she added.
Reinard de Guzman (center), Tefera Seboka (second from right) and Hande Kavarnali enjoy their trip to Ulleungdo Island with other participants in the program.
Most program participants said that the visits to Dokdo and Ulleungdo islands were the most memorable. Tefera Seboka from Ethiopia said, “The whole trip is interesting, but the visit to Dokdo Island is the best part. My father worked as a royal guard and participated in the Korean War, and I feel proud to visit this country and Dokdo Island.”
“I hope to work on advancing the Korea-Ethiopia relationship. That is the reason I've been studying Korean studies here,” he added.
Andrew Inglis from Canada said the visits to Dokdo and Ulleungdo were a wonderful experience for him to see the unique lifestyle on the islands, as he has never visited any island in Korea during his stay in the country.
Having studied for an M.A. in international development at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies since 2014, he said, “This program enabled me to look back on the past when my grandfather participated in the war.”
Inglis said that his grandfather came back to Korea in 1962 after the armistice ended the Korean War to work with the U.N. near the DMZ until 1964, and he takes pride in his participation in the war and in his service. His grandfather is currently serving as the chief of the International Federation of Korean War Veterans' Association.
Another Ethiopian participant, Helen Abebe, said she remembers President Park Geun-hye’s visit to Ethiopia earlier this year and expressed her gratitude to the Ethiopian war veterans. Abebe said she takes great pride in her father who participated in the war and that she realized Korea achieved its development on the foundation of the sacrifices made by the war veterans.
Some participants showed great interest in the Korean soldiers. Hande Kavarnali from Turkey said, “When I was little, I was always interested in soldiers and police officers and wanted to be just like them because my grandfather participated in the Korean War.”
“Both the performance by the military band and the military salute were impressive to see at the ceremony on the first day. I particularly thank all the Dokdo Coast Guards who kindly responded to my military salute when I arrived on the island.”
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer, reporting from Pohang
Photos: Yang Myung Hoon, photographer; Yoon Sojung, Korea.net staff writer
arete@korea.kr
Descendants of Korean War veterans from overseas and Korean students receive scholarships and pose for a group photo during a closing ceremony at the U.N. Peace Memorial Hall in Busan on July 2.
Hande Kavarnali says that Korea and Turkey are historical sibling countries and that she will work hard to contribute to deepening the bilateral relationship between the two nations. She was speaking during the closing ceremony for 'The Long March of Youth From U.N. Korean War Allied Nations' on July 2.
Descendants of Korean War veterans from overseas and Korean students pose for a group photo on July 1 on Ulleungdo Island.
Descendants of Korean War veterans and Korean students pay silent tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during the Korean War, at the war monument in Dutayeon Valley in Gangwon-do Province on Jun. 29.
