Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War (1950-53), a special contribution by the President will appear in major dailies overseas. The column, which expresses South Korea’s gratitude to countries that came to its rescue during the Korean War will appear in newspapers of 16 countries that sent out troops and another five that provided medical assistance.

The special contribution titled “Fulfilled Promise: The Republic of Korea After 60 Years” contains a message of how Korea is grateful for the great sacrifices made by participating countries and expresses Korea’s own pledge to make an active contribution to the world.

The president’s contribution will appear in different papers overseas from June 21 to 25 and will differ in content according to the respective countries, the Presidential Office of Cheong Wa Dae announced. 

On Monday Thailand became the first country to print the President’s piece, in both the vernacular daily “Matichon” and English-language “Bangkok Post.” The President credited Thailand for being the first country in Asia to dispatch troops at the outbreak of the Korean War. Noting that Thailand sustained 1,273 casualties out of the total of 6,326 troops sent, he wrote that had it not been for their noble sacrifices, Korea would not have become what it is today.

Meanwhile, last Friday the president also visited the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan and laid a wreath of flowers. He first looked around the cemetery for the fallen soldiers from Turkey, the section for young soldiers and those who fought in the Battle of Gapyeong (Kapyong). The park contains the remains of 2,300 men from 11 nations.

A Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson explained that the president’s visit is another way of expressing his thanks to the nations who fought in the Korean War and a message of peace amid heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula due to the North’s provocation in late March this year.

The Korean War was the first case of direct military action by the United Nations in a conflict. The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, the Netherlands, Colombia, Greece, New Zealand, Ethiopia, Belgium, France, South Africa and Luxembourg sent troops while Denmark, India, Norway, Sweden and Italy extended medical assistance.