Yeoju City Holds Memorial for Greek War Veterans, Honoring Korea-Greece Friendship and Sacrifice

Yeoju City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Choongwoo) held a memorial service for Greek War veterans at the Greek Army Veterans Memorial in Yeongwol Neighborhood Park on September 30, commemorating the sacrifices of Greek soldiers who participated in the Korean War. The ceremony was organized by the Yeoju branch of the Gyeonggi Province chapter of the Korea Disabled Veterans Organization (Chairman Kim Kisoo).

Lee Chungwoo, mayor of Yeoju, and other attendees are taking a commemorative photo after holding a memorial ceremony for Greek War Veterans at the Greek War Veterans Memorial in Yeongwol Neighborhood Park on September 30. Provided by Yeoju City

More than 100 people attended the memorial service, including Lee Choongwoo, Mayor of Yeoju City; Lukas Tsokos, Ambassador of Greece to Korea; Archbishop Job of Zografo Aristotelis of the Korean Orthodox Church; Son Ae-jin, Head of the Eastern Gyeonggi Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; Ahn Kwangchan, President of the Korea-UN Command Friendship Association; as well as representatives from veterans' organizations, military officials, and members of the Yeoganghoe.

The event began with the national ceremony, followed by floral tributes from the distinguished guests and a memorial ritual led by the Korean Orthodox Church. Afterwards, commemorative speeches were delivered by Kim Kisoo, Chairman of the Yeoju branch of the Korea Disabled Veterans Organization; Ambassador Lukas Tsokos; Mayor Lee Choongwoo; Chairman Park Doohyung; and Director Son Ae-jin, who reflected on the sacrifice and dedication of the veterans and the significance of the friendship between Korea and Greece.

The Cheongchun Choir performed "The Train Leaves at 8 O'Clock," a song well-known among the Greek people, along with "I Believe," a song of hope, expressing through music the spirit of sacrifice of the veterans and the longing for peace, deeply moving those in attendance.

Lee Choongwoo, mayor of Yeoju City, is delivering a greeting at the memorial ceremony for Greek War Veterans at the Greek Army Veterans Memorial in Yeongwol Neighborhood Park on September 30. Provided by Yeoju City

Mayor Lee Choongwoo stated, "We will always remember the courage and sacrifice of the Greek War veterans and continue to honor the will of all those who dedicated themselves to the freedom and peace of the Korean Peninsula."

Meanwhile, on April 30, Yeoju City established a sister-city relationship with Papagou-Holargos City in Greece, named after General Papagos who made the decision to dispatch Greek troops to the Korean War, further strengthening cooperation and friendship between the two cities.