OPINION:
In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the ROK-US alliance, KUSAF and KDVA investigated the status of fallen US soldiers who were killed by hostile acts of North Korean military which have continued since the Korean War, aiming to reflect on the role and contributions of the US Forces in Korea for the security and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula.
The year-long research funded by the National Assembly revealed that around 101 U.S. soldiers died since the Korean War due to the North Korean military’s gunfire, hand grenade and mine attacks, and strikes by MiG fighter jets, as well as KATUSA soldiers who fought alongside the US soldiers.
KUSAF, KDVA, and the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy (KRINS), tasked with this research, had considerable difficulty locating records of the fallen soldiers, which is a poignant indication of our indifference to their sacrifices. Through the creation of this memorial, KUSAF and KDVA aspire to deepen public understanding of the importance of national security and remind all that “freedom is not free” and that freedom comes at a cost.
KUSAF and KDVA believe that honoring, remembering, and appreciating the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers is the best way to strengthen the alliance and ensure the security of the Korean Peninsula. Based on their research, they plan to build a memorial for these fallen heroes.
KUSAF plans to propose Yongsan as the site for the memorial. Being in Yongsan, the CFC, UNC, and USFK successfully deterred North Korea’s war provocations for 44 years before relocation to Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in October 2022. Now, in the vacant space left behind, they aim to showcase the record of the USFK’s dedication and sacrifices to the people of the Republic of Korea.
The KUSAF has determined that a budget of approximately $4 million will be needed to build the memorial and plans to pursue government support.
• Major General (Ret.) Shin, Kyoung Soo is the Secretary General of Korea-US Alliance Foundation (Former ROK Defense Attache to the U.S.A.)
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