Wonju City Requests National Funding for 'Patriots and Veterans Park' from Minister Kwon Oh-eul... Hopes for Balanced Policy

On December 1, Wonju City, Gangwon Province, held a meeting at the city Integrated Veterans Hall with Kwon Oh-eul, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, and heads of local veterans organizations in attendance.

On the 1st, Wonju City held a meeting at the city Integrated Veterans Hall with Kwon Oh-eul, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, and heads of local veterans organizations in attendance. Provided by Wonju City

This meeting was the first on-site communication event held in the Wonju area since Minister Kwon took office. It was organized to share veterans policies and local veterans issues, and to explore practical solutions.

During the meeting, Wonju City and the heads of local veterans organizations emphasized the need for national funding to establish the Wonju Patriots and Veterans Park, and requested that this be reflected in national policy.

The Wonju community hopes that Minister Kwon's philosophy of balanced veterans policies will address the issue of veterans infrastructure being concentrated in the capital and western regions (such as Seoul, Daejeon, Sejong, and Cheonan), and that their proposal will be incorporated into national policy.

Meanwhile, Wonju is recognized as the stronghold of anti-Japanese militias, where all three major militia uprisings (Eulmi, Eulsa, and Jeongmi) took place; the birthplace of anti-Japanese independence battles symbolized by militia leader Min Geungho; the site of the Wonju District Battle, which was pivotal in stabilizing the central front during the Korean War; and a key military security hub where the 1st Logistics Support Command, the 36th Infantry Division, and the Air Force 8th Fighter Wing are stationed. It is considered the only city in the country where the spirit of anti-Japanese resistance, victory in the Korean War, and the current security narrative are all embodied in a single place, earning it the reputation as a unique city of national defense and veterans affairs.

Won Kangsu, Mayor of Wonju, stated, "Wonju's national defense and veterans assets are not merely memories of a particular generation or region, but national values that future generations should experience in their daily lives. With its well-connected transportation network, Wonju is the optimal city to disperse and accommodate veterans needs from the capital and western regions, and to implement experience-based veterans policies on the ground."

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