Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Minshik (second from left) on Sept. 11 at the Germany Red Cross in Berlin talks to the latter’s Secretary General Christian Reuter on the establishment of a monument to Germany’s participation in the Korean War. (Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs)
By Lee Dasom
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs supports the setup in Germany of a memorial to German participation in the Korean War.
The ministry on Sept. 12 said, “We decided to support construction of the first war memorial to German participation in the Korean War in Germany, which provided medical support during the war.”
Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Minshik on Sept. 11 in Berlin visited the German Red Cross for talks with the latter’s Secretary General Christian Reuter. The minister expressed thanks for Germany’s medical support during the war and discussed setting up the memorial.
In April 1953, Germany decided to send a medical support team to Korea. From May 1954 to March 1959, the European country greatly contributed to Korean medical development like building the German Red Cross Hospital in Busan and transferring medical technology.
Since Germany in 2018 was classified as a country providing medical support during the war, its Red Cross has promoted the installation of a monument to raise awareness of German participation in the conflict.
“The ministry’s role is to ensure that bilateral solidarity formed through the history of participation in the Korean War is passed down to our descendants,” Minister Park said. “The Korean government will actively support the establishment of a war memorial facility being pursued for the first time in Germany.”
dlektha0319@korea.kr
