Yangju 'Hyosun Miseon Peace Park' to be Completed on the 13th

[Asia Economy (Uijeongbu) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The 'Hyosun-Miseon Peace Park,' commemorating Hyosun and Miseon, who tragically passed away after being hit by a US military armored vehicle in 2002, will be completed on the 13th.

The Hyosun-Miseon Peace Park Construction Committee announced on the 11th that to mark the 18th anniversary of Hyosun and Miseon, the park will be established in Hyochon-ri, Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju, with a completion ceremony held on the same day. Gyeonggi Province stated that Lee Jae-gang, the province's Deputy Governor for Peace, will attend the ceremony. This is the first time a Gyeonggi Province official has participated in an official event since the Hyosun-Miseon incident.

The Deputy Governor for Peace explained, "Attending a 100% civilian-led memorial event is an expression of high regard for the civilian-led memorial project and a commitment not to neglect the unjust sacrifice of Gyeonggi residents any longer, as well as a promise to remember and never forget."

The Hyosun-Miseon Peace Park was constructed by the Hyosun-Miseon Peace Park Construction Committee using citizen funds, starting construction last year and completing it within a year.

The park, located at the accident site in Hyochon-ri, Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju, covers an area of 367㎡ and is planned to be used as a place for peace education for youth.

Earlier last month, the Construction Committee sent a letter titled 'A Letter to Governor Lee Jae-myung,' requesting the installation of sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic lights, and stairs around the peace park for safety.

The province accepted the committee's request and decided to provide a budget to improve accessibility and safety of the peace park, enhance the surrounding environment, and establish a peace learning center for youth.

A provincial official emphasized, "This is the first time Gyeonggi Province is directly participating in the Hyosun-Miseon memorial project," adding, "We will provide support at the provincial level, reflecting the people's desire for an equal Korea-US relationship and peace."

The Hyosun-Miseon incident occurred on June 13, 2002, during the Korea-Japan World Cup, when two female middle school students, Shin Hyosun and Shim Miseon, were walking along a two-lane road without sidewalks in Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju, and were tragically struck and killed by a US military armored vehicle coming from behind.

The US military soldiers responsible for the accident were acquitted through a US military trial rather than a South Korean court, under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between South Korea and the US.

At the time, the public was outraged by the US military's attitude and the unequal SOFA agreement, leading citizens to take to the streets holding candles and hold protest rallies.

This rally is regarded as the beginning of the popularization of candlelight vigils.

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