Australian Korean War veterans wind up trip to Seoul

Kicker: Booyoung Group chairman Lee organizes, finances weeklong visit

By Kim Bo-gyung

A group of Korean War veterans from Australia and their family members returned home Friday after winding up their weeklong trip to Seoul.
The 20 veterans and family members came to Korea last Saturday at the invitation of Booyoung Group chairman Lee Joong-keun.
Group officials said chairman Lee arranged and financed the veterans’ trip in honor of their sacrifice. During their stay in Korea, they visited the War Memorial of Korea in central Seoul, National Cemetery in southern Seoul and the truce village of Panmunjeom in Gyeonggi Province.
A total of 17,164 Australian soldiers fought in the Korean War (1950-1953), ranking them fifth in size among 21 countries that sent troops to the Korean Peninsula under the U.N. flag in support of South Korea, group officials explained.
Chairman Lee invited the Australian veterans to his company headquarters in central Seoul and expressed gratitude for their contribution to peace in Korea.
“I am grateful for the dedication of Korean War veterans. I believe Korea was able to exist thanks to war veterans’ holy sacrifice and dedication,” Lee proclaimed.
He also revealed a plan to support the offspring of veterans and Australian students in Korea via scholarships.
The tycoon in the nation’s construction industry additionally donated 10 million copies of a history book he authored in his effort to educate younger generations on the Korean War.
(lisakim425@heraldcorp.com)

caption: Booyoung Group chairman Lee Joong-keun (right center) poses with Australian Korean War veterans during their visit to the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, central Seoul, this week. Booyoung Group