Mayor Kim Byungsoo: "We Will Uphold the Spirit of Respect, Honor, Gratitude, and Giving Back"

Gimpo City Opens Veterans Hall as a Symbol of Honoring National Merit Recipients
A New Hub for 10 Veterans' Organizations and Customized Welfare Services for Veterans' Families
A New Space After 30 Years... Foundation for Integrated Support by Bringing Together Dispersed Organizations

Gimpo City, under the 8th popularly elected administration that has emphasized honoring national merit recipients, has newly opened the "Gimpo City Veterans Hall," an exclusive space for national merit recipients and veterans' families. With this, the city has established a foundation to provide integrated support for veterans' organizations that were previously scattered, as well as to offer tailored welfare services to national merit recipients and their families.

Kim Byungsoo, mayor of Gimpo City, is delivering a greeting at the opening ceremony of the "Gimpo City Veterans Hall," an exclusive space for national merit recipients and veterans' families, held on the 25th. Provided by Gimpo City

Previously, the Veterans Hall was an aging building nearly 30 years old, causing ongoing inconvenience for users, and more than 10 veterans' organizations were dispersed across the National Merit Recipients' Hall, Veterans Hall, and Reserve Forces Hall. Immediately after taking office, Mayor Kim Byungsoo accelerated the establishment of a new Veterans Hall, emphasizing the importance of honoring national merit recipients, and after 30 years, a new Veterans Hall has finally been unveiled.

The Gimpo City Veterans Hall, built with a total project cost of 10.49 billion won, occupies a land area of 735 square meters, has a total floor area of 1,833 square meters, and consists of one basement floor and four above-ground floors. Construction began in March last year and was completed in March this year, with the opening taking place after the completion of interior work. The Veterans Hall is equipped with various facilities, including offices for 10 veterans' organizations, a multipurpose room, and a "Rest" cafe.

The opening ceremony for the Gimpo City Veterans Hall was held on the 25th, attended by more than 150 people, including members of veterans' organizations, citizens, and heads of various agencies and organizations. The event proceeded with the national pledge, a progress report, commemorative and congratulatory speeches, a celebratory performance by a children's choir, followed by a facility tour and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In his commemorative address, Mayor Kim Byungsoo stated, "Gimpo City has always emphasized providing appropriate compensation to those who have sacrificed for the community. The Veterans Hall, which opened today, is not just a building, but a precious space that elevates the honor and pride of veterans' families and passes on the spirit of patriotism to future generations. Gimpo City will never forget the sacrifice and dedication of national merit recipients and will continue to practice respect, honor, gratitude, and the spirit of giving back."

The opening ceremony was attended by Mayor Kim Byungsoo, the Chair of the Gimpo City Council, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly members, city council members, the personnel officer of the 2nd Marine Division, the commander of the 17th Infantry Division's Buyeo Regiment, the head of compensation at the Incheon Veterans Affairs Office, the CEO of Gimpo Urban Management Corporation, and other key figures who celebrated the opening. With the opening of the Veterans Hall, Gimpo City plans to become a city where national merit recipients and veterans' families are respected and can live with dignity.

Kim Byungsoo, mayor of Gimpo City, is cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the 'Gimpo City Veterans Hall,' a dedicated space for national merit recipients and veterans' families, held on the 25th with attendees. Photo by Gimpo City

Meanwhile, since the start of the 8th administration, Gimpo City has increased veterans' allowances every year. In 2023, the honor allowance for veterans was raised from 70,000 won to 100,000 won per month, and the honor allowance for independence patriots was increased from 100,000 won to 200,000 won per month. In 2024, the city introduced a new living support fund for vulnerable veterans, and in 2025, the allowance for Korean War veterans will be raised from 50,000 won to 100,000 won per month, with the eligibility for spousal allowances also expanded. In addition, Gimpo City established its first dedicated veterans' affairs team, and in recognition of these efforts, was selected by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs as an "Outstanding Institution for Honoring Veterans."

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