Veterans' Visit to Korea Event Continuing for 17 Years... 'From Next Year, Visiting Participating Countries Directly'

Sa Gang-seok, pastor of Sae Eden Church, has been hosting an event honoring Korean and American war veterans for 17 years since 2007. Every June, during the Month of National Defense and Veterans, the entire congregation invites overseas veterans of the Korean War to express gratitude for their sacrifices. While it is common for the government to partially support the expenses of such invitation events, Sae Eden Church covers all costs and even provides gifts to the veterans.

The event began in 2007 when Pastor Sa visited the United States to receive the Martin Luther King International Peace Award. A Black veteran named Ridick Nathaniel James, who was wounded by a gunshot to his left waist during the Korean War, told Pastor Sa, “I want to visit Korea again, but I have no one to invite me.” Pastor Sa explained, “When I told him to come with his friends, he brought about 40 people. At that moment, I thought about who I am, what the role of the Korean church is, and how we should repay them.” To date, Sae Eden Church has served approximately 6,000 veterans. The event costs about 1 billion won per session, funded by designated offerings from the congregation.

Welcoming scene at the veterans appreciation event held in June 2019 [Photo by Sae Eden Church]

This year, from the 17th to the 22nd, 47 veterans and their families will set foot on Korean soil. Among them are six veterans, including Paul Henry Cunningham (94), who fought at the age of 21. They will stay at the Jamsil Lotte Hotel and visit the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery, Marine Corps Headquarters, Pyeongtaek Naval 2nd Fleet, Yongsan War Memorial, and Special Forces Command.

This year’s event focuses on American veterans in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Korea-US alliance. It is also the last visit to Korea for many elderly veterans who find traveling difficult. Pastor Sa said, “It is no longer easy for veterans over 90 years old to visit Korea as before. For the health and safety of our elders, this will likely be the last visit event. In the future, we plan to continue appreciation events by visiting the countries where the veterans served.”

The domestic veteran event will increase from once a year to twice a year. Elder Kim Jong-dae, a retired Navy Rear Admiral who has served as the chairman of the organizing committee since the first event, said, “More than 10,000 surviving Korean veterans with indelible physical and emotional scars pass away every year. Since there is little time left for gratitude and repayment, Sae Eden Church will take the lead in honoring every last one of them.”

As part of this year’s event, a bronze plaque featuring the signatures of Korean and American veterans will be presented to President Yoon Suk-yeol and President Biden. A commemorative book titled Korean War Veterans’ Memoirs Record will also be produced and distributed, compiling the handwritten memoirs and photos of 22 veterans, including those who were killed or missing in action.