Seoul invites foreign Korean War veterans ahead of event

Seoul has invited 19 foreign Korean War veterans ahead of the upcoming annual ceremony commemorating the sacrifices of UN troops in the 1950-53 Korean War, the government announced on Monday.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said that the veterans from seven countries, including the US, Britain and Canada, and their family members are set to arrive here on Monday for a six-day visit, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The veterans are scheduled to attend the "Turn Toward Busan" event that will be held at the UN Memorial Cemetery on Thursday.

The event was first held in 2007 following a suggestion of Vincent Courtenay, a Canadian Korean War veteran.

He will also attend this year's event.

The southeastern port city of Busan is home to the UN Memorial Cemetery, the only UN cemetery in the world.


South Korea has so far invited around 33,000 Korean War veterans and family members since 1975 as part of efforts to honor their sacrifices during the Korean War.

Some 1.95 million UN troops from 22 countries took part in the war, which ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

The veterans also plan to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas during their stay here, the Ministry said - IANS