Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (third from left), Lt. Gen. Andrew Harrison, deputy commander of the United Nations Command (second from left), and other participants at the memorial service "Turn Toward Busan" on Nov. 11 observe a minute of silence to honor fallen soldiers buried at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan. (Yonhap News)

By Kang Gahui

An official memorial ceremony on Nov. 11 was held in Busan to honor fallen soldiers from 22 countries who served under the United Nations Command during the Korean War.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in the morning held the ceremony "Turn Toward Busan" and burial of veterans at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Korea located in Busan.

The cemetery houses the remains of a combined 2,315 veterans from 11 countries.

At 11 a.m., a commemorative siren sounded across Busan for a minute followed by a 21-gun salute, signifying the nation's highest honor for the fallen.

Attending the ceremony were Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Minshik, veterans from home and abroad and their families, and diplomats from the 22 countries, 

Commemorative performances included a memorial show by the Black Eagles, the Republic of Korea Air Force's aerobatic flight team.

The ceremony was followed by the burial of the remains of Dutch veterans Mathias Hubertus Hoogenboom and Eduard Julius Engberink and British veteran James Grundy.

Minister Park said, "We hope that this is an opportunity to further solidify our friendship, exchange and cooperation with the 22 combatant countries."

Launched in 2007 through the recommendation of Canadian veteran Vincent Courteny, the annual ceremony, which marked its 16th edition this year, was designated a legal anniversary in 2020.

kgh89@korea.kr