Category: Random Stuff

Korean War Organization Makes Donations to U.S. School Libraries

| June 9, 2022

This is a really good idea and a nice gesture by a Korean couple who founded the Korean War Foundation:

Koo Sung-yeol (third from right) and Kim Chang-hwa (second from right) pose for photos with the school principal, superintendent, and students after a donation event at Workman Elementary School in Michigan, United States, on April 4. [KOO SUNG-YEOL]
Koo Sung-yeol (third from right) and Kim Chang-hwa (second from right) pose for photos with the school principal, superintendent, and students after a donation event at Workman Elementary School in Michigan, United States, on April 4. [KOO SUNG-YEOL]

In Kaycee, Wyoming, the only school library is named for Corporal Demaret Kirtley, a Korean War veteran born in the small American town.  
   
The library got its name thanks to a $5,000 (6.26 million won) donation by Koo Sung-yeol and Kim Chang-hwa to the school in May 2021. 

In 2020, the Korean couple, who have lived in the U.S. for more than 50 years, founded the Korean War Foundation. It has made $5,000 donations to schools in the hometowns of nine American soldiers who died in the Korean War.  
   
Koo and his wife make donations to the schools and deliver nameplates that honor the fallen soldiers.  
   
The couple’s grand notion: to pay respect to the American foot soldiers in the war for Korea’s freedom from all 50 states.  
   
Corporal Kirtley died on Dec. 6, 1950, in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir on the Gaema Plateau in South Hamgyeong. He was 21 years old. His remains, which were not recovered at the time, were returned to his hometown in June 2019, 69 years after he died. 

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link.