Commonwealth Defense Attach?s Show Great Interest in Tourism Security Park Development Project

Discussing the 74th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Gapyeong
and Strengthening Cooperation with the Commonwealth Defense Attach? Group

Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province (Governor Seo Tae-won) announced on the 7th that the Commonwealth (Canada, United Kingdom, Australia) Defense Attach? Group visited the county office on the 6th to discuss the 74th anniversary commemorative event of the Battle of Gapyeong and to strengthen friendly cooperation.

On the 6th, the Commonwealth Defense Attach? Group visited Gapyeong County Office to discuss the 74th anniversary commemorative event of the Battle of Gapyeong and took a commemorative photo with the attendees. Provided by Gapyeong County

The visit included five officials: Colonel Gino Crattien, the new Canadian Defense Attach?, his aide Derek Wilkins, British attach? aide Lee Roberts, and Australian Deputy Defense Attach? Owen Gibbs. At the county office, Vice Governor Kim Mi-seong and heads of departments welcomed them, discussed the event plans, and explained the project to establish the ‘Commonwealth Tourism Security Park.’

Gapyeong-gun holds an annual commemorative event for the Battle of Gapyeong at the Commonwealth War Memorial in Daegok-ri, Gapyeong-eup, organized by the embassies of the four Commonwealth countries stationed in Korea (Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand) and the United Nations Korean War Veterans Association. This year’s event is scheduled for the fourth week of April.

Vice Governor Kim Mi-seong said, “We cherish the blood alliance formed with the four Commonwealth countries through the Battle of Gapyeong, and we hope that friendship and goodwill will be further strengthened based on this. We ask for your cooperation so that Gapyeong-gun can establish itself as a security tourism city recognized both domestically and internationally.”

In response, the Defense Attach? Group expressed their gratitude for Gapyeong-gun’s warm hospitality and continuous cooperation in the annual Commonwealth memorial events, stating, “We have great interest in and will actively support the ‘Commonwealth Tourism Security Park’ project, which is being promoted as a space to pass on the spirit of sacrifice of the veterans to younger generations.”

Meanwhile, as a pledge project of the 8th local government administration, Gapyeong-gun plans to establish the ‘Commonwealth Tourism Security Park’ by 2028 in the Buk-myeon area to honor the veterans of the Battle of Gapyeong and link it with security education and tourism resources. This area is recognized as an optimal location connected to security exhibition halls and tourism facilities, as it was a major battleground of the Battle of Gapyeong and hosts numerous Commonwealth war memorials.