Pres. Park vows to discover last veteran who remain buried in history

President Park Geun-hye said on Wednesday, “We will not cease the efforts until we find the last hero who remains buried in history,” adding, “The government will redouble efforts to spread culture where society values and treat well war veterans, and their contributions are conveyed to future generations in entirety.”

At a “gala held to console and honor South Korean war veterans and war veterans of the U.N. troops on the 65th anniversary of the Korean War" at Lotte Hotel in central Seoul on the day, President Park made the remarks, saying, "To record patriotism of people who sacrificed for the nation as an exemplary model of history, and to honor them deep in people’s mind is the very foundation for national development."

Park introduced a project to discover national patriots, which has worked to discover, compensate and pay proper treatment to those who remain unregistered as war patriots since last year. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans’ Affairs has discovered 2,800 people last year, and 2,320 people through May this year. Notably, the ministry also researched records on war participation and newly discovered this year 16 female patriots including nursing officer cadets and female soldiers who joined the military as volunteer soldiers.

Park said, “In order to continue successful history that the Republic of Korea has achieved, the nation should complete the challenging mission of taking a new economic leap and making grand innovation of the state based on solid national security,” urging war veterans to become the magnet for consolidating national energy. She went on to say, “We are very grateful to diplomatic corps from countries that sent soldiers for the U.N. troops, and which have continued to show unchanging friendship and support under blood-bonded alliances for over 60 years.”

During the Korean War, a total of 137,899 South Korean soldiers died, and as many as 450,742 people were injured. Casualties were larger in the North Korean military, with more than 520,000 killed. U.N. soldiers who died amounted to 37,902, with U.S. soldiers accounting for a lion’s share at 33,686. The number of deaths among the Chinese military was as many as 148,600.

egija@donga.com