Busan City Holds Communication Meeting with Heads of Veterans Organizations

April 16, 4 PM, Mayor Park Hyung-jun and 12 Busan Veterans Organization Leaders

Discussion on Veterans Policy Development Directions and Cooperation Plans with Veterans Organization Leaders

On the 16th at 4 PM, Busan City will hold a communication meeting in the protocol room on the 7th floor, attended by the heads of 12 veterans organizations, including the Busan branch of the Liberation Association.

Attendees include Mayor Park Hyung-jun, Kwon Byung-gwan, head of the Busan branch of the Liberation Association, Kim Sun-il, head of the Busan branch of the Disabled Veterans Association, Choi Doo-gil, head of the Busan branch of the Bereaved Families of War Veterans Association, Park Eun-joo, head of the Busan branch of the Widows of War Veterans Association, Kwak Geun-soo, head of the Busan branch of the April 19 Democratic Revolution Association, Lee Jae-dong, head of the Busan branch of the April 19 Revolution Victims’ Bereaved Families Association, Kim Tae-soo, head of the Busan branch of the Meritorious Service Association, Kang Sung-eui, head of the Busan branch of the Agent Orange Veterans Association, Kim Seok-jong, head of the Busan branch of the Special Mission Meritorious Persons Association, Heo Kyung, head of the Busan branch of the Korean War Veterans Association, Park Sung-woon, head of the Busan branch of the Vietnam War Veterans Association, and Park Dong-gil, president of the Busan Veterans Association.

This meeting was organized to discuss the development direction of veterans policies and cooperation plans through communication with the heads of veterans organizations.

Busan City aims to realize warm veterans care for about 59,000 veterans and their families this year, actively promoting the spread of a veterans culture through appropriate compensation and respect for their sacrifice and contributions.

Key veterans policies for this year include ▲ full-scale promotion of the establishment of the 'Busan Independence Movement Memorial Hall,' a symbolic space of the spirit of independence (detailed design service costing 650 million KRW) ▲ veterans honor allowances for war veterans (about 17,400 people, 20.8 billion KRW), veterans honor allowances (about 3,700 people, 1.7 billion KRW), medical expenses and consolation money for families of independence patriots (about 500 households, 400 million KRW) ▲ funeral protocol for national veterans (about 600 cases, 160 million KRW) ▲ support for activities of veterans organizations (12 organizations, 1.6 billion KRW) ▲ and dignified veterans commemorative events such as April 19, Memorial Day, Korean War, and UN veterans international memorial ceremonies.

Additionally, ▲ continuous maintenance of the 'Chunghontap' (Memorial Tower), a symbol of patriotic spirit, to enhance dignity and promote designation as a national registered cultural heritage ▲ expansion of private facility installation of 'priority parking zones for national veterans' ▲ and commendations for exemplary national veterans (about 70 people) will also be pursued.

The city has consistently made efforts to strengthen veterans support in response to changes in the policy environment, such as the aging of national veterans.

Major achievements include ▲ expansion of free medical treatment hospitals for families of independence patriots (from 1 to 8 hospitals in 2021) ▲ expansion of veterans honor allowance support targets (in 2021, expanded to include April 19 patriots and special mission meritorious persons, increasing by about 200 people and 70 million KRW) ▲ significant expansion of war injury and Agent Orange aftereffect patients’ honor allowance support (in 2023, increased by 8.2 billion KRW) ▲ successful hosting of the government commemorative ceremony for the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice in Busan (2023) ▲ and increase of veterans honor allowance (in 2024, from 30,000 KRW to 40,000 KRW per person per month).

On this day, the city will also listen to suggestions from each organization and exchange opinions on cooperation plans for veterans policies. The city plans to make special efforts to support and improve the issues discussed for each organization to the best of its ability.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun said, “I once again thank the heads of veterans organizations who have sacrificed and devoted themselves for freedom and democracy with patriotic and loyal hearts, and who are now working hard for the development of veterans organizations and the spread of veterans culture.” He added, “We will always communicate and work together with veterans organizations to realize warm veterans care for the honorable lives of national veterans.”