Five veterans from Seoul counseling center named to South Korea's Invictus Games team

Five members of a youth counseling center for wounded veterans — the first of its kind established by a local government in South Korea — have been selected to represent the country at the 2027 Invictus Games.

The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport competition for active-duty and veteran military personnel who were wounded or fell ill during service, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Britain's Prince Harry founded the games in 2014 to raise awareness of rehabilitation and the reintegration of wounded service members into society.

The 2027 edition will be held in Birmingham, Britain, from July 10 to 17 (local time), spanning eight days. About 550 athletes from 26 countries are expected to compete, with total attendance projected at around 3,000. The program will expand from nine events to 13, adding pickleball, laser run, esports and 3-on-3 basketball to the existing lineup of athletics, cycling and swimming, among others.

South Korea will send 11 athletes to next year's games, five of whom are young veterans who shared their experiences of recovery and renewed purpose through the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Youth Wounded Veteran Counseling Center. The five are Chu Yeon-hui and Jeon Seung-bo, participants in the center's peer support group; Lee Ju-eun, a former operations director at the center; and center staff members Pyo Jeong-ho and Lee Han. All five sustained injuries during military service and have continued to pursue challenges through rehabilitation and sport.

The Seoul Welfare Foundation launched the center in March 2022. It provides legal and veterans' benefits counseling, assists with registration as persons of national merit, and supports recovery through psychological counseling and peer support groups. Through the end of last month, the center had conducted 3,056 comprehensive consultations and 1,072 individual counseling sessions. It also connects veterans with employment, entrepreneurship and residential support to help them reintegrate into civilian life.

Bae So-young, director of the Social Welfare Public Interest Law Center at the Seoul Welfare Foundation, said the selection of young veterans who overcame their injuries to earn spots on the national team was "a meaningful achievement that demonstrates the power of recovery and second chances." Bae added that the center would continue to provide comprehensive support — from legal and psychological counseling to independence assistance — so that young wounded veterans can have their rights protected and return to society in good health.