"Please Widely Share General Walker Who Protected the Republic of Korea"... Performance by Middle School Students

Chilgok Janggok Middle School 10+ Complaints

"Heroes Who Defended the Nakdong River Front"

Chilgok County Governor: "A Pleasant Complaint"

"Please remember General Walker, Kim Jae-wook, Chilgok County Governor."

Middle school students in Chilgok County, Gyeongbuk, are drawing attention by submitting a unique petition asking to widely publicize General Walton H. Walker (1889?1950), the commander of the US 8th Army who made remarkable achievements during the Korean War.

Students of Chilgok Janggok Middle School are performing a demonstration to widely promote General Walker of the U.S. Army, who defended the Republic of Korea during the Korean War.

The protagonists are about 10 students currently attending Janggok Middle School in Seokjeok-eup, Chilgok County. On the 7th, they left a lengthy message on the Chilgok County Office website under the section "Requests to the Governor."

They submitted the petition to help youth like themselves learn about General Walker, who established the "Walker Line" (Nakdong River defense line) during the Korean War, blocking the North Korean army at a critical moment when 90% of the country was occupied and only 10% remained free.

This kind-hearted petition from the middle school students originated from Kim Dong-jun (3rd grade, Janggok Middle School), who came across General Walker’s story while researching on social media for a school assignment.

Kim was deeply moved by General Walker’s words: "Even if I die here, I will protect Korea. There is no retreat; only the choice to hold the line or die remains."

Determined to inform his peers about General Walker’s heroic defense of the Nakdong River, which runs through his hometown Chilgok, Kim decided to become a petitioner for the first time in his life.

After explaining General Walker’s story to his school friends living in the same apartment complex, they shared his sentiment. Kim and his friends gathered late in the evening after academy classes, carefully writing and coloring each letter with great care.

They then composed a lengthy letter to Governor Kim Jae-wook and performed a campaign to raise awareness about General Walker.

Through their letter, the students asserted strongly, "General Walker was the one who fought the war and defended the Nakdong River in Chilgok County where we live, but no one has told us about him. His story is not even in the textbooks. Please make sure elementary, middle, and high school students can learn about him."

Governor Kim Jae-wook, upon receiving the petition, shared the students’ story by posting their letter and photos on social media and encouraged them.

Through social media, Governor Kim said, "I am introducing the most heartwarming petition sent by a middle school student." He added, "The students are so admirable and commendable. We will explore various ways to promote General Walker, the hero of the Nakdong River," responding warmly to the students’ petition.

General Walker, originally from Texas, graduated from the US Military Academy and participated in World Wars I and II. During the Korean War, he defended the Nakdong River front and succeeded in the Incheon landing operation, playing a key role in the liberation of Seoul on September 28.

In December 1950, while traveling in Dobong-gu, Seoul to award a Medal of Honor to his son, Captain Sam Walker, who was also fighting in the war, General Walker died after being hit by a truck.