On November 11, the World Observes a One-Minute Silence Toward Busan... 'UN Week' Fanfare

October 23rd UN Day Ceremony at UN Memorial Park, Nam-gu, Busan on the 75th Anniversary
‘UN Week’ from October 24 to November 11: Memorials, Forums, UN Employment, and Procurement Events

In April, a burial ceremony for the late Boyd Watts, a Korean War veteran, was held at the UN Memorial Park in Nam-gu, Busan. [Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The ‘UN Festival,’ including international organization job fairs, UN procurement briefings, and wreath-laying and commemorative ceremonies, will be held in Busan with diverse events.

The ‘75th Anniversary UN Day Commemoration Ceremony’ will take place at 11 a.m. on October 23 at the UN Memorial Park in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, the world’s only UN military cemetery.

About 100 attendees will include diplomatic envoys from UN countries that participated in the Korean War and personnel from the army, navy, and air force.

The UN Day Commemoration Ceremony is held annually on October 24, UN Day, to commemorate the founding of the UN and the fallen UN soldiers who participated in the Korean War, and to honor the UN spirit of protecting global freedom and peace. This year marks the 75th ceremony.

The ceremony will proceed with the entrance of flags from 11 countries with burials, the national anthem, commemorative speeches, wreath-laying, a gun salute and moment of silence, and a memorial performance. The memorial performance for the fallen UN soldiers will be presented by the Busan City Choir.

Before the event, army, navy, and air force personnel will lay chrysanthemums at the individual graves of 2,309 soldiers.

To honor the UN veterans who sacrificed during the Korean War, bronze plaques engraved with the names of the 2,309 soldiers buried at the UN Memorial Park will be produced and delivered to ambassadors of 10 countries to strengthen friendship and cooperation.

Acting Mayor Byun Sung-wan said, “We are designating the area around the UN Memorial Park as the UN Peace and Culture Special Zone to cultivate it as a global sanctuary of peace.”

‘Busan UN Week’ begins and ends with the national commemorative days ‘UN Day (10.24)’ and ‘Turn Toward Busan (11.11).’ The first week is a week of gratitude to express thanks to veterans who participated in the Korean War and dedicated themselves to protecting freedom, and the following week is a week of remembrance to honor the spirit of sacrifice of fallen soldiers who gave their lives for peace.

Busan City declared last year as the inaugural year of Busan UN Week and is promoting it as a national event while fostering Busan as an international peace-centered city brand.

On the 29th, the opening of Busan UN Week will be announced, and the World Peace Forum will be held under the theme ‘UN Sustainable Goals and Peace.’ Keynote speeches by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and side events such as joining and proclaiming the international peace city will be held.

During the event period, international organization job fairs and UN procurement briefings will also be held. On November 11, at the UN Memorial Park, the ‘Turn Toward Busan’ event will mark the conclusion of ‘2020 Busan UN Week.’ ‘Turn Toward Busan’ is a global event where people worldwide, including 22 countries that participated in the Korean War, observe a one-minute moment of silence facing Busan.

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