Mapo-gu, Following the National Defense Veterans Appreciation Festival on the 1st, Also Holds 6.25 War Veterans Support Event on the 20th
Mapo-gu Established Holiday Consolation Payments and Increased Allowances for Veterans Last Year... Strengthening Veterans' Welfare
Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, "We Will Strive to Ensure Those Who Served the Nation in Their Prime Live with Honor"
Mapo-gu (District Mayor Park Kang-su) held various events in June, the Month of Patriots and Veterans, starting with the Patriots and Veterans Appreciation Festival, including the Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony, transportation support for bereaved families visiting memorials, and a consolation event for the Korean War veterans.
The number of veterans recognized by Mapo-gu includes approximately 3,800 individuals such as ▲Independence Meritorious Persons ▲War Veterans ▲Wounded Veterans ▲April 19 and May 18 Democracy Meritorious Persons ▲Patients with Agent Orange Sequelae ▲Meritorious Persons for National Defense and Public Service.
On the first day of June, the 2nd Patriots and Veterans Appreciation Festival was held at Hongdae Red Road under the theme "Happy to Be With You," providing a meaningful occasion to honor veterans and practice living patriotism in daily life.
About a thousand veterans, their families, and citizens attended the festival, which included a commemorative ceremony, congratulatory performances by singers Kwon In-ha, Kim Heung-guk, and Dignity, a parade by the 56th Division Military Band, and booths for patriotic culture, exhibitions, and experiences, receiving great enthusiasm from the public.
On the 6th, Mapo-gu supported transportation buses for about 190 bereaved family members traveling to Seoul National Cemetery and Daejeon National Cemetery for the 69th Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony.
Additionally, on the 20th at Catertle, a consolation event was hosted by the Mapo-gu Veterans Hall and the Korean War Veterans Association Mapo-gu Branch, attended by about 100 Korean War veterans from the area. The event featured youth Taekwondo, vocal, and military band performances, a commemorative ceremony, awarding of Korean War Meritorious Service Medals, and singing of the Korean War song together.
On that day, Kim Woo-chun (age 89), president of the Korean War Veterans Association Mapo-gu Branch, expressed, "I am very grateful for holding this meaningful consolation event without forgetting the veterans," and added, "I hope our descendants will remember and reflect on the past history even as time passes."
Last year, Mapo-gu newly established holiday consolation funds for national veterans and increased the honorary war veteran allowance and veterans’ courtesy allowance from 50,000 won to 60,000 won.
About 3,200 people in the area are recipients of the veterans’ courtesy allowance and honorary war veteran allowance, and the holiday consolation funds of 30,000 won each are automatically paid twice a year during Lunar New Year and Chuseok.
District Mayor Park Kang-su said, "The Republic of Korea exists today thanks to national meritorious persons and their families," and added, "Mapo-gu will continue to do its best to establish a high-quality culture of patriotism to support the honorable lives of national meritorious persons and their bereaved families who devoted themselves to the country at a young age."
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