Reflecting the Opinions of Faculty and University Members...
Plan to Establish the Memorial Near the ROTC Building
Separate Commemorative Project for General Whitcomb, Who Supported the Pusan National University Campus, Under Consideration
Pusan National University will resume the 'Korean War Veterans Memorial Project,' which had been put on hold pending further collection of opinions within the university community.
The university plans to relocate the memorial from its initially planned site and begin full-scale construction, aiming for completion in the second half of this year.
Pusan National University (President Choi Jaewon) announced that, at the Campus Planning Committee meeting held on July 31, the committee reviewed the proposal to "establish a new memorial to honor the dedication of Pusan National University alumni who served in the Korean War." As a result, the university decided to proceed with the construction by changing the location from near the Physics Building to the area around the Reserve Officers' Training Corps building.
This decision is part of a joint project proposed by the Busan Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in July of last year. At that time, Pusan National University had planned to inscribe the names of approximately 255 alumni who served in the Korean War on a memorial to be erected on campus. However, the project was temporarily suspended due to differing internal opinions, including those from the faculty association, regarding the location and composition of the memorial.
The committee decided that the name of the memorial should clearly include "Pusan National University," and that content related to General Richard Whitcomb, which was originally to be included, will instead be handled as a separate commemorative project and excluded from this memorial.
Committee members reportedly judged that commemorating General Whitcomb merely with a relief or inscription on the back would be inappropriate in terms of respect.
Pusan National University plans to adjust the dimensions of the memorial to reflect the new site conditions and aims to begin construction as early as August, with completion scheduled within the year.
An official from the university headquarters stated, "The construction of this memorial is intended to remember the noble spirit of Pusan National University alumni who took the lead in defending the nation amid the turmoil of war and to instill a proper understanding of history in future generations. We will continue our efforts to realize the university's identity and public mission through various commemorative projects for veterans."
Pusan National University.
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