Sae Eden Church Hosts 19th Annual Appreciation Event, Invites 200 Veterans for Patriotic Music Concert

Patriotic Veterans Music Concert to Be Held on June 22
Inviting Republic of Korea Armed Forces Veterans
Sae Eden Church Holds 19th Annual Appreciation Event

Sae Eden Church announced on June 18 that it will host the "Patriotic Veterans Music Concert" at 4:30 p.m. on June 22 at Sae Eden Church, inviting 200 Republic of Korea Armed Forces veterans from Yongin, Seongnam, and Suwon in Gyeonggi Province, along with around 5,000 dignitaries and local residents. This year marks the 19th consecutive year that Sae Eden Church has held an appreciation event for Korean War veterans.

This event will be hosted by retired Army General Lee Chulhwi, who is an elder at Sae Eden Church and chairman of the "Power of Positivity" foundation. The commemorative ceremony will begin with veterans entering the venue, following a color guard carrying the national flag, the United Nations flag, and the Sae Eden Church flag, accompanied by a brass band's performance of military songs. The welcoming address will be delivered by Lee Sangil, Mayor of Yongin Special City, and the congratulatory speech will be given by local National Assembly member Lee Eonju.

After the first part, which is a worship service, the second part will feature the veterans music concert. Elder Ki Yeonho, a voice actor and actor, will present a performance themed "War and Peace." Pastor Park Juwook, a tenor, and the male vocal ensemble Big Mouse will perform a medley including "Marching to the Frontline" and "Ah, My Republic of Korea." Special guest Maria Elizabeth Reese, a former Miss Trot contestant from the United States whose grandfather and great-uncle were Korean War veterans, will sing a medley of wartime songs such as "Frontline Nocturne" and "Be Strong, Geumsuna."

The annual appreciation event for domestic and international veterans, now in its 19th year at Sae Eden Church, is a leading example of a civilian-led campaign to promote a culture of honoring veterans and patriotic love for the country in Korea. From 2007 to 2025, the church has invited a cumulative total of approximately 7,300 people?including Korean War veterans, veterans from eight United Nations countries (the United States, Canada, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, T?rkiye, Colombia, and Ethiopia), their families, families of the missing, and bereaved families of the fallen?to express gratitude and appreciation.