Finding Over 50,000 National Defense Heroes by 2022

Commemorating the 64th anniversary of the Korean War, various events were held to honor the dedication and sacrifice of patriotic ancestors and national heroes.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] By 2022, the campaign to locate the Korean War (6.25) Meritorious Service Medal recipients aims to find over 51,000 national heroes.

On the 23rd, the Ministry of National Defense announced that since the establishment of the Korean War Meritorious Service Medal Search Task Force under the Army Personnel Command in accordance with the law enacted on April 23 last year, they have found about 5,000 out of approximately 56,000 recipients. To complete the search by the end of 2022, the Ministry launched the "Ujuseon (Gift We Give) Project."

The Ujuseon Project is a nationwide campaign to locate about 56,000 individuals and their bereaved families who were awarded medals for their merits during the Korean War but did not receive the actual medals and certificates due to the urgent battlefield conditions at the time, and to present them with the Meritorious Service Medals.

Under the project, media promotions, public campaigns, local governments and related organizations' "Finding Our Local Heroes," and award ceremonies involving the public have been conducted.

"Finding Our Local Heroes" is an activity where regional reserve commanders or local governments proactively search for honorees by receiving lists of recipients. For example, Seodaemun-gu in Seoul collaborated with the task force to find 45 national heroes and their bereaved families.

The Ujuseon Project is also showing results. On the 12th of last month, Mr. Lim Young-il (90), a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal without a military service number, received his medal after 70 years through his son's phone participation. Having participated in the Yeongcheon area battle as a student soldier, he vividly testified to the intense battle conditions and even the names of commanders.

Lee Nam-woo, Director of the Personnel Welfare Office at the Ministry of National Defense, said, "Most of the medal recipients are elderly, and since the law was enacted as a temporary law until 2022, time is limited. We will fulfill the nation's responsibility before it is too late."

Citizens who wish to be recognized as honorees or bereaved families can check the list posted on the Ministry of National Defense or Army Headquarters websites and then call the task force at ☎ 1661-7625.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.