Korean War Veterans Excluded from Korean War Memorial Ceremony in Busan
It is pretty strange that Korean War veterans are intentionally excluded from a Korean War memorial event:
I felt a little foolish this year when reporters and others present at the Turn Toward Busan ceremony at the UN Cemetery on Nov. 11 congratulated me for being prominently mentioned in the program. Some thought I was actually present, among the various dignitaries.
I wasn’t there. Nor were any veterans invited from the various nations that sent soldiers to fight in Korea during the war years.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs excluded the aging veterans from participating this year. Instead, they gave more than 100 places usually reserved for veterans to family members of those who fell in the war.
While no veteran will object to giving up his place to a bonafide grieving family member of a comrade, it was a major error of the MPVA to exclude veterans.
Ironically, the ceremony gave the impression that veterans from the many nations were actually present. The huge video screens set up on each side of the altar displayed a sign in English that read, “Thanks, Veterans.” But they were not there.
Bereaved family members are much younger than the veterans. In most cases they will be on this Earth much longer. Presumably, they will continue to be invited to Korea long after the veterans revisit programs end in 2020.
In several cases the family members invited were very distant relatives of the fallen soldiers. They were not born until many years after the Korean War ended, and never met or actually grieved for the fallen soldiers.
While their presence does perpetuate the memory of those who fell, it also excluded participation by those who served alongside those soldiers ― those who fought in the war and were spared. [Korea Times]
I don’t understand what the problem is with adding more chairs to accommodate family members and veterans? Why exclude veterans especially when they have been invited in prior years.
Here is what Dr. Tara O thinks is going on:
Min of Patriots & Veterans Affairs didn't invite Korean War vets from UN Sending States this year, unlike in the past. Many are in 80s. The Minister is Pi Woo-jin, who strongly supports Moon, whose priority is Kim Jong-un. How does Kim feel re UN vets?https://t.co/rekH21tM2e
— Tara O (@DrTaraO) November 29, 2018
part of commie moon’s larger effort to re-write history.
Commie Moon cutting the budget too to pay for Fatty’s train and cheese diet.
I think it’s a bit of a stretch to think that any consideration is given to what KJU feels about those who fought for South Korea during the Korean War. Remember that the simplest explanation is most likely the correct explanation. It’s most likely just a typical cluster {ahem} operation and, as the GIKOREA mentioned, could easily have been rectified by adding chairs. It’s not like there aren’t a bazillion folding chairs in South Korea.
Johnhenry is right. It wasn’t them being veterans that got them kicked to the curb, it was simply ageism.