95-Year-Old Filipino Korean War Veteran Sings "Arirang"... HanmiGlobal Supports Home Renovation

Housing Improvements with Warm Companion

HanmiGlobal, a company specializing in construction project management, announced on November 14 that, in collaboration with the social welfare foundation Warm Companion, it had renovated and completed new homes for two Korean War veterans in Calamba City, Laguna Province, Philippines, and held a completion ceremony. The event, which took place the previous day, was attended by over 200 people, including officials from the Republic of Korea Army and local residents.

Florendo Benedicto, a 95-year-old veteran who received one of the new homes, participated in major battles such as the Battle of Yuldong during the Korean War. He expressed his deep gratitude, saying, “I sincerely thank the Republic of Korea for remembering us even after 70 years,” and sang “Arirang” at the ceremony, showing his affection.

Another beneficiary, Luis Lasco, aged 94, sadly passed away earlier this year and was unable to see the completion of his new home. His family conveyed their appreciation, saying, “We are grateful on behalf of our father, who spoke about Korea throughout his life,” and added, “We are happy to be able to live comfortably in a cleanly renovated house.”

Attendees of the completion ceremony for housing for Filipino Korean War veterans are taking a commemorative photo in front of the finished houses. From the front row, fifth from the right, are Jovena Alvaro Damacen, President of the Philippine Korean War Veterans Association, and Seonyoung Yoo, Manager of Warm Companion. From the second row, fifth from the right, are Eunbong Shin, Army Personnel Commander, and Sanghwa Lee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines. HanmiGlobal

This project is part of the “Homes of Patriotism” initiative conducted by the Army Headquarters to mark the 75th anniversary of the Korean War. The Philippines is a representative participant in the war, having sent 7,420 troops, of whom 122 lost their lives.

Since 2010, Warm Companion and HanmiGlobal have been working together on the “Space Welfare” project, which aims to improve the living environment of facilities for people with disabilities in Korea. Since 2018, they have expanded their support to repair homes for overseas veterans who fought in the Korean War, including those in Ethiopia and T?rkiye.

Kim Jonghoon, Chairman of HanmiGlobal and Chairman of Warm Companion, stated, “Today’s Republic of Korea exists thanks to the sacrifices of the veterans who dedicated themselves during the Korean War,” and added, “We will continue to steadily support space welfare projects to improve the quality of life for veterans.”