Seoul Districts Step Up Efforts to Strengthen Recognition for National Merit Recipients

Yeongdeungpo District Provides Funeral Hall Rental Fee Support
Seocho District Hosts Veterans Culture Festival
Gwangjin District Increases Support Budget by 78% Over Three Years

In commemoration of Patriots and Veterans Month in June, each district in Seoul is holding a variety of events and implementing support policies to honor the noble sacrifices of those who dedicated themselves to the nation, as well as to strengthen recognition and support for national merit recipients and their families. The government has designated June as Patriots and Veterans Month since 1984.

From the left in the photo: Kim Kyungho, Mayor of Gwangjin District; Yoo Seonghun, Mayor of Geumcheon District; Jeon Seongsu, Mayor of Seocho District; Lee Seungro, Mayor of Seongbuk District; Choi Hogwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District. Provided by each district office.

Yeongdeungpo District is the first among Seoul's districts to provide up to 2 million won in support for funeral hall rental fees at eight locations, including Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, for national merit recipients. The aim is to reduce the financial burden on national merit recipients and their families and to ensure respect and support until the very end. The district has also strengthened support for daily life, including free shuttle bus service to reserve force training sites for young reservists, an increase in consolation payments for national merit recipients from 25,000 won to 40,000 won, a monthly honorarium of 70,000 won, and a condolence payment of 300,000 won upon death.

On the afternoon of June 5, a commemorative event for Patriots and Veterans Month will also be held at Yeongdeungpo Art Hall. Choi Hogwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, stated, "We aim to remember the noble spirit of sacrifice of the heroes who dedicated themselves to the nation and to express our gratitude."

Seocho District will host the "2025 Seocho Veterans Culture Festival" on June 8 at the Maehyeon Yun Bonggil Memorial Hall Square. The event, held under the theme "We will repay your sacrifice and dedication with happiness in Seocho," will feature 15 experiential booths related to veterans, welfare, and military units, and will also include a children's drawing contest on the theme of love for the country.

Jeon Seongsu, Mayor of Seocho District, remarked, "Honoring and respecting the spirits of those who defended the nation is the true mark of a dignified country and city," adding, "We will strive to make veterans' recognition an everyday part of our city."

Seongbuk District will present a free performance of the original musical "Simwoo" at Simwoo Hall in Seongbuk-dong on June 6 and 7 to mark the 81st anniversary of the passing of Manhae Han Yongun. "Simwoo" is a work that reflects Han Yongun's return to his original intentions and his contemplations on the path of the nation and its people, based on the funeral of Ilsong Kim Dongsam. The performance, held in the historic Simwoo Hall, will shed light on the lives and spirits of independence activists through art.

Lee Seungro, Mayor of Seongbuk District, stated, "As we mark the 80th anniversary of liberation, this will be an opportunity to remember the independence activists who fought for the nation's freedom."

Geumcheon District will hold a commemorative event for Patriots and Veterans Month on June 9, offering a variety of programs such as commendations for national merit recipients, memorial performances, and expressions of gratitude. On Memorial Day, four vehicles will be operated to support visits to the Seoul National Cemetery, and in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Korean War, a "Patriotic Heroes Appreciation Banquet" will also be held. The district has also strengthened practical support, raising the monthly veterans' honorarium to 70,000 won this year following the introduction of a funeral supplies support program last year. Initiatives to promote veterans' culture are actively underway, including youth history education on patriotism and the Village Living College with descendants of independence activists.

Yoo Sunghoon, Mayor of Geumcheon District, emphasized, "I hope that the culture of honoring the noble spirit of sacrifice of those who served the nation will spread throughout the local community."

Gwangjin District increased its budget for recognition and support of veterans from 2.2 billion won in 2022 to 3.9 billion won this year, marking a 78% increase over three years. Policies that provide practical benefits for daily life also stand out. Following an ordinance revision last year, 35 priority parking spaces for national merit recipients were created at 15 public parking lots, and a monument inscribed with the names of 3,136 Korean War veterans was erected. The monthly veterans' honorarium was raised to 70,000 won, and the annual holiday consolation payment to 150,000 won, with special consolation payments and support for veterans over 100 years old newly established.

Kim Kyungho, Mayor of Gwangjin District, stated, "We will make even greater efforts to ensure that national merit recipients and their families receive the recognition and compensation they deserve."