To mark the 70th anniversary this year of the 1953 armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War and the Korea-U.S. alliance, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs on March 22 announced programs involving the public and international community under the theme "Amazing 70." Shown are Korean War veterans and members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps on the morning of March 19 marching while holding the flags of the war's combatant countries at this year's Seoul Marathon at Gwanghwamun Square in the capital's Jongno-gu District. Yonhap News
By Xu Aiying
To mark the 70th anniversary of both the 1953 Korean War armistice and Korea-U.S. alliance this year, a large-scale global commemorative event is slated for July 27, the day when the agreement was signed to end fighting in the war.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs on March 22 said it will host an international ceremony to mark International Memorial Day for U.N. Korean War Veterans and the armistice's 70th anniversary at Busan Cinema Center in the port city's Haeundae-gu District. Twenty-two countries that fought for the Republic of Korea in the war will take part in this event.
Under the theme "Amazing 70," the ministry will conduct projects with the public and international community.
Around a record-high 150 projects at the pan-government level will celebrate the alliance's 70th anniversary, the government said.
In June, the Month of Patriots and Veterans, a commemorative ceremony for the Korean War will tell future generations of how the international community stood in solidarity for the universal value of freedom under the U.N. flag.
Around July 27, events will celebrate the armistice's 70th anniversary with government delegations from combatant countries, U.N. veterans of the war and their families. Talks with ministers of patriot and veterans' affairs from such nations on related cooperation are also scheduled.
On International Memorial Day for U.N. Korean War Veterans on Nov. 11, a day designated by the Korean government in 2020, a global memorial service for such veterans and the exhibition "Traces of Korean War Veterans" (unofficial translation) will be held at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Busan, the world's only burial ground for such veterans.
Multiple events will celebrate the 70th year of Korea's alliance with the U.S., which sent 1.79 million of the U.N. 1.96 million soldiers. Next month, the top 10 heroes among Korean and American veterans will be selected and announced.
The U.S. will also host the festival "Amazing 70" featuring promotional booths for Korean culture and industry to showcase Korea's developmental status through cultural content like K-pop.
Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Minshik said, "This is a special year that marks both the 70th anniversary of the 1953 Korean War Armistice Agreement and Korea-U.S. alliance," adding, "The alliance forged in blood with 22 combatant countries including the Korea-U.S. alliance has created a remarkable 70-year history that led to the Republic of Korea's brilliant prosperity."
"Through various commemorative events and projects, we will express our gratitude to U.N. combatant countries and veterans, share the value of freedom with the public and combatant countries, and create opportunities to advance toward a better future with an even stronger alliance."
xuaiy@korea.kr
