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The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (Minister Pi Woo-jin) will invite 82 people including 62 US Korean War veterans and their family members, as well as 20 Korean-American Korean War veterans and their family members to Korea on the occasion of the 69th anniversary of the Korean War, starting from June 23, 2019. Through their visit to Korea, the ministry aims to express its appreciation at a government level for the noble sacrifice and contribution of the UN Korean War veterans.
In particular, it is expected that many unknown stories of the Korean War will be told since the participants include veterans who fought in the Battle of Jangjin Lake* and Hungnam Evacuation**.
*Battle of Jangjin Lake: From November 26 to December 11, 1950, 15,000 soldiers from the US 1st Marine Division and broke through the siege of the 120,000 Chinese communist soldiers from 7 divisions near Jangjin Lake, Hamkyungnam-do. During the operation, approximately 4,500 US marines were killed in action and 7,500 soldiers suffered from frostbite. It is evaluated as one of the fiercest battles in history.
** Hungnam Evacuation: In December 1950, the US and Korean army helped approximately 100,000 refugees get on board the SS Meredith Victory and escape from the Chinese communist forces.
Some of the veterans will bring with them special stories about their participation in the Korean War.
- Richard Rubie fought in the Korean War from September 15, 1950 to September 25 1951 as a marine attached to the US 1st Marine Division. He participated in the Incheon Landing Operation, Battle of Jangjin Lake and Hungnam Evacuation. The US 1st Marine Division was recognized with the US Presidential Unit Citation and ROK Presidential Unit Citation. He was also bestowed with a Bronze Star Medal and is now a Catholic priest.
- Joseph Belanger fought in the Korean War from November 1948 to January 1952 and participated in the Incheon Landing Operation, Battle of Jangjin Lake and Hungnam Evacuation. He was a corporal when he fought in the war and served in the US 1st Marine Division.
- Thomas Tsuda, who fought in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954, still vividly remembers the war. He enlisted in the US marine and received basic training in Camp Pendleton. Along with 2,200 marines, he arrived in Korea and stayed for 16 months in total. He had to stary in the front lines for as long as 10 months and had to go through horrible experiences. He was awarded with the Purple Heart Medal after he was injured from the war.
In addition, the participants of the Revisit Korea Program this month include Glen Powell Jr, an American actor who is also the grandson of late Willaim J. Powell, a US veteran who fought in the Korean War from 1952 to February 1954. He appeared in many movies including the Dark Knight Rise, Expendables 3, Ride Along 2, Everybody Wants Some, Hidden Figures, etc. In particular, Glen Powell Jr will also appear in the movie Devotion which is based on a book written by Adam Makos. The movie narrates a story of two US navy pilots who fought during the Korean War.
Furthermore, the niece of the late Colonel Kim Young Oak* and her husband will pay a special visit to Korea. The niece of the fallen hero will be awarded with the plaque of "Korean War Hero of June" on behalf of her late uncle.
* Born as a son of the Independence activist Kim Soon Kwon in 1919, Colonel Kim Young Oak was bestowed with the Silver Star Medal in the US for his contribution in WWII in 1944 and he also received Bronze Medal of Military Valor in Italy. In addition, he was awarded with the Legion of Merit in the US in 1972 a
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