Starting from 2020, November 11th is a statutory memorial day designated as ‘International Memorial Day for UN Korean War Veterans’.
Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, in March 2020, a new law(유엔참전용사의 명예 선양 등에 관한 법률, UN Korean War Veteran Honor Enhancement Act) is enacted and from November 11th, the day is designated as ‘International Memorial Day for UN Korean War Veterans’.
On the proposal of a Canadian veteran, at the Busan UN Memorial Cemetery, the ‘Turn Toward Busan’ event has been held every year since 2007 at 11 am on November 11th to commemorate for one minute toward Busan, where soldiers died in battle.
VANK created a digital poster under the slogan “THANK” to remember the noble sacrifices and dedication of veterans around the world who fought in the Korean War 70 years ago, and to take the lead in establishing peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula.
VANK informs young Koreans that the sacrifice and dedication of the Korean War veterans lay behind in the great prosperity and achievements of Korea, as one of the world’s top 10 economic powers and a cultural powerhouse sweeping the world with the Korean Wave. Through this, Korean teenagers and youths would like to convey a message of thanks to the Korean War veterans around the world.
To this end, VANK created digital posters in both Korean and English to deliver these to veterans around the world through social media.
VANK expects that if the digital posters are shared with Korean netizens through the hashtag #THANK in social media channels, the Korean war veterans will also get to know about this campaign.
In the digital poster, starting with the first letter of ‘THANK’, young Koreans are delivering letters of appreciation to Korean War veterans around the world in Korean and English.
It also introduces the remarkable development of Korea today through the dedication and sacrifice of UN veterans who fought in the Korean War 70 years ago.
THANK의 T: Thank you UN veterans
THANK의 H: Heartily
THANK의 A: Admire you
THANK의 N: November 11th, ‘Int’l Memorial Day for UN Korean War Veterans’
THANK의 K: Korea always remembers you
The poster also shows a thank-you letter sent to VANK by Barbara Steele, a veteran of the US Marine Supply Unit of the Korean War 70 years ago, to remember and appreciate the sacrifices of UN veterans to Korea.
“Korea’s remarkable development of today is the evidence that our participation in the Korean War 70 years ago was a right decision. I am very happy to see that young Koreans haven’t forgotten us and are keeping us in their memories.”
-Ms. Barbara Beltran Steele, U.S. Marine Corps Korean War Veteran-
Through this ‘THANK’ campaign, VANK intends to inform the world that today’s young Koreans remember the noble sacrifices and dedication of veterans around the world who fought in the Korean War 70 years ago.