71st Anniversary of the Korean War... What Events Will Be Held?

On the afternoon of the 11th, Korean War veterans are examining the memorial plaques engraved with their names at the 'Incheon Metropolitan City June 25 War Veterans Memorial Unveiling Ceremony' held at Subong Park in Nam-gu, Incheon. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] To mark the 71st anniversary of the June 25 War this year, a commemorative event will be held at the Busan Haeundae District Cinema Center.

On the 24th, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced that this is the first time since the commemorative event hosting was transferred to the Ministry in 1994 that the event will be held in Busan. This year's event is held under the theme 'Memory 1129, A New Takeoff.' It commemorates the 1,129 days from the outbreak of the war on June 25, 1950, to the signing of the armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, and carries the meaning of wishing for the Republic of Korea's leap forward through the strength to overcome national crises.

The Cinema Center, where the 'Suyeong Airfield' (a UN military airfield) used by the ROK Army and UN forces during the June 25 War was located, was chosen as the venue for the event.

The commemorative event, hosted by actor Lee Jang-woo and Campbell Asia, who served as the head of the 6·25 War 70th Anniversary Promotion Committee Supporters, will proceed in the order of entrance of participating countries' flags, national ceremony, reading of letters from veterans, awarding of military merit medals, commemorative speeches, commemorative performances, and singing of the 'Song of June 25,' lasting about 50 minutes.

About 240 people, including veterans of the June 25 War, their families, and key government officials, will attend. The event will begin with veterans representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps entering alongside Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum.

Among them are retired Army Brigadier General Song Jin-won, who participated in the Battle of the Capital Hill as part of the 1st Regiment of the Capital Division; retired Navy Sergeant Hwang Sang-young, who served as a Private Second Class in the first naval battle of the June 25 War, the Battle of the Korea Strait; retired Air Force General Kim Doo-man, who flew over 100 sorties and took part in the bombing of the Seungho-ri railway bridge in Pyongyang; retired Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Lee Bong-sik, who participated in the Incheon Landing Operation and the Battle of Dosolsan; and Lee Jeong-sook, who served as a female volunteer soldier performing reconnaissance and scouting missions with the G-2 Special Forces.

Retired General Kim Doo-man will read a letter he personally wrote titled 'My Homeland, the Republic of Korea' on stage. Following this, military merit medals will be awarded to one surviving veteran whose contributions during the June 25 War were confirmed after more than 70 years, and to three of their family members.

Surviving veteran Kim Jong-ho will receive the Hwarang Military Merit Medal for his distinguished service in approaching enemy lines at Hill 734 in East Kimhwa and inflicting significant damage with grenades.

Videos of dynamic honor guard performances by each branch of the military will be shown against the backdrop of six locations in Busan that hold memories of the wartime provisional capital. A grand tribute performance titled 'Military Tattoo,' dedicated by junior soldiers to the war heroes, will be spectacularly presented. The six locations are the Provisional Capital Government Building, Busan Port Pier 1, BEXCO, Yeongdo Bridge, the 40 Steps, and other iconic sites in Busan that preserve traces of the June 25 War. Finally, all attendees will join in singing the 'Song of June 25' to conclude the event.

Meanwhile, on the 29th at 7 p.m., a consolation gathering will be held at the Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul, hosted by the Prime Minister, with about 80 attendees including veterans, descendants of UN veterans, and families of war dead whose remains have been recovered.

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