PPP lawmaker introduces bill to designate country-specific Korean War commemoration days for UN veterans

People Power Party lawmaker Jung Hee-yong has introduced legislation to designate a country-specific "Korean War Participation Day" for each of the 22 nations that sent troops under the UN flag.

Jung announced Sunday that he introduced the bill — a partial amendment to the Act on Honoring the Service of UN Korean War Veterans — on May 28.

Under current law, July 27 is designated "UN Forces Korean War Participation Day" to honor the contributions of countries that fought alongside South Korea during the Korean War.

The amendment would allow the date each of the 22 UN participating nations first arrived in South Korea to be designated and commemorated as that country's own Korean War Participation Day. Jung said the measure is intended to more specifically highlight the significance of each country's involvement and to strengthen friendly cooperation with the participating nations.

The bill also lays the legal groundwork for the minister of Patriots and Veterans to run a scholarship program for grandchildren of UN Korean War veterans. It would additionally allow the ministry to develop and distribute digital education content honoring the veterans' sacrifice and service.

"I introduced this amendment to honor all UN veterans who willingly chose sacrifice and dedication on a distant foreign land to protect South Korea's freedom and peace," Jung said. "I hope the amendment will help ensure that the noble value of their sacrifice and devotion for South Korea is properly passed on to future generations."

Jung has carried out veterans diplomacy activities since 2021, delivering letters of gratitude to the embassies of UN participating nations in Seoul each June during the month of national patriotism and veterans affairs. Last year, as part of a National Assembly delegation, he visited Ethiopia to meet Korean War veterans, bereaved families and their descendants at a memorial hall and express his appreciation.