■ Prologue

When the Korean War broke out in 1950, the world's attention was focused on the Korean Peninsula. Among this, the United Nations actively intervened in the Korean War and began sending the "UN Forces" to the Korean Peninsula. Starting from the United States, 16 combat support countries and 6 medical support countries perceived North Korea as the enemy and poured in their troops and supplies. Naturally, the Republic of Korea, the main actor of the war, also shed blood as a member of the UN forces to defend the Korean Peninsula. Those who participated in the Korean War, who were the parents, children, and family members, are referred to as "Korean War Veterans" Through the relentless sacrifices of the veterans, the Korean War ended with the signing of the armistice agreement. As time has passed, 70 years after the armistice agreement, the veterans who were once involved in the beginning and end of this war, became more and more distant from the world, and their traces became fainter and fainter over time.

Today's exhibition is planned to shine more light on the traces of the Korean War veterans. Through these traces, let us not forget the memories and contributions of the veterans from the Korean War, as it is an important turning point in modern Korean history.

■ Progress Report on the ‘Collecting the Belongings of Korean War Veterans’ Campaign (November 10th, 2023)

"These items are proof of important parts of my life. However, as they are passed down through generations, their value seems to diminish because fewer people recognize their significance. This makes me feel sad and scared. But now, things are different. Because I know that my story will continue to be told at the UN Peace Memorial Hall. Thank you for remembering me.“ -The messages from UN veterans who participated in the campaign.”

The UN Peace Memorial Hall started planning the "Collecting the Belongings of Korean War Veterans" campaign in 2022. This was in preparation for the 70th anniversary of the armistice, and aimed to remember and honor those who sacrificed themselves during the Korean War. The goal of the campaign was to collect the records of these veterans before it became too late. As a special project for the 70th anniversary of the armistice, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs selected our campaign in 2023. We have been actively collecting artifacts throughout the year, both domestically and internationally.

From various parts of Korea, such as Cheorwon on the border with North Korea to Jeju Island, we received numerous belongings, including medals, certificates, and uniforms that had been treasured for 70 years. We have also been contacted by veterans themselves or their families, grandchildren, or nephews/nieces from seven different countries, and they have sent us items directly. Additionally, activities were carried out to collect materials from veterans' associations and bereaved families in five countries.

We would like to mention two encouraging aspects of this collection. The first is that while our museum had relatively few artifacts showing what our military looked like during the Korean War compared to those from UN veterans from 22 countries, thanks to the active participation of our veterans this year, we were able to secure over 700 new artifacts. This is a positive development which means that future exhibitions related to our military can be expanded more deeply.

The second is that we were able to obtain artifacts from Norway and Sweden, the medical support countries among the 22 UN allied nations. However, it was challenging to find any evidence 70 years later as the average age of their medical unit at the time of dispatch was between 30s to 40s. Thanks to the assistance of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Embassy in Korea, we were able to establish contact with the Korean War Association. With their enthusiastic support, we were introduced to bereaved families who were willing to donate. In particular, last June, during our visit to Norway and Sweden, we successfully gathered a diverse array of artifacts. These included the uniforms worn by medical staff and nurses at the time, as well as passports and airline tickets that provided a record of their journey to Korea, a foreign land. Additionally, we collected various medals that had been awarded to them by their respective home countries in recognition of their service.

From March to November 2023, the United Nations Peace Memorial Hall collected a total of 22,319 artifacts from 99 donors through the "Collecting the Belongings of the Korean War Veterans" campaign (737 items from 66 domestic donors and 21,582 items from 33 donors in 7 countries). The Memorial Hall plans to introduce these donated materials not only in the upcoming special exhibition but also in permanent exhibitions and educational programs after further research. The UNPM also aims to continue receiving donations of veterans' stories and artifacts in the coming years.