Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs: "We Also Share These Concerns and Fully Support Them"
4,407 Signatures Delivered Requesting Succession of Veteran Honor Allowance to Spouses
Proposals for Gangwon Patriots Square, Early Construction of Hoengseong National Cemetery, and Designation of Quasi-Veterans Hospital
Jin-Tae Kim, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, visited the Seoul Regional Veterans Office on the 5th to meet with Oh-Eul Kwon, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. During the meeting, he handed over the signed document for the succession of the veteran honor allowance to spouses and requested active support for the province's key veterans affairs issues.
Jin Tae Kim, Governor of Gangwon Province (right), visited the Seoul Regional Veterans Office on the 5th to meet with Oh Eul Kwon, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, and handed over the signed document for the succession of the honorary veteran allowance spouse. Provided by Gangwon Province Special Self-Governing Province
The four initiatives proposed by the province on this day were: ▲succession of the veteran honor allowance to spouses, ▲early commencement of construction for the National Hoengseong National Cemetery, ▲creation of the Gangwon Patriots Square, and ▲designation of a quasi-veterans hospital. These are core issues aimed at strengthening recognition for elderly veterans and their families.
Currently, the average age of Korean War veterans is 93, and that of Vietnam War veterans is 79, indicating rapid aging. Therefore, the bill for the succession of the veteran honor allowance to spouses, which is pending in the 22nd National Assembly, requires urgent amendment.
In response, the province conducted a signature campaign through three veterans organizations in the region from June to July. A total of 4,407 signatures were collected: 940 from the Korean War Veterans Association, 2,133 from the Vietnam War Veterans Association, and 1,334 from the Korean Agent Orange Veterans Association. These were delivered to the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.
Additionally, the province proposed: ▲the creation of Gangwon Patriots Square (with a basic planning study budget of 200 million won) to commemorate the historical significance of the Battle of Chuncheon and to establish a veterans space in daily life; ▲the early commencement of construction for the National Hoengseong National Cemetery, which will include a 20,000-niche enshrinement facility with an investment of 49.7 billion won and is targeted for completion in the first half of 2029; and ▲the designation of a quasi-veterans hospital in Gangwon, considering the current reliance on 63 commissioned hospitals due to the absence of a dedicated veterans hospital in the region.
Oh-Eul Kwon, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, said, "Thank you for bringing up issues that the Ministry has also been considering," and added, "The succession of the veteran honor allowance to spouses is a matter that the Ministry must urgently pursue, and we will actively address it."
He continued, "We also agree on the necessity of creating Gangwon Patriots Square and will support its promotion. Although the project cost for the National Hoengseong National Cemetery increased during the design process, we will coordinate with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to ensure the earliest possible start of construction." He also added, "We deeply agree on the need for a quasi-veterans hospital system."
Governor Jin-Tae Kim stated, "All four projects proposed today are key veterans affairs initiatives in Gangwon Province aimed at enhancing recognition for national merit recipients and their families," and requested the Ministry’s active interest and support.
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