55 veterans of the Korean War and their bereaved families will visit South Korea for a six-day visit..

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55 veterans of the Korean War and their bereaved families will visit South Korea for a six-day visit from the 24th at the invitation of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced on the 23rd that it will hold a re-visit event to invite them to mark the Day of the U.N. Forces (July 27).

Among the veterans participating in this event, Harold Simrak (97), a U.S. veteran, is the “highest old soldier.” He was active in the Battle of Hill 328 near Waegwan-eup, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do in 1951, and was injured by mortar fragments during the battle. The U.S. federal government awarded the “Purple Heart,” a medal awarded to wounded soldiers in honor of his bravery.

Malcolm Lynn Williamson, 95, of the U.S., who is also visiting South Korea, participated in the 1950s as a wireless carrier of the U.S. Navy’s Thompson. Currently, he works as a docent at the Korean War Memorial Park’s historical materials exhibition hall in Wilsonville City Town Center, Oregon, delivering lessons left by the war to future generations.

Some veterans are visiting Korea for the first time since the war. Clifford Pearson, 92, of the U.K. served as a member of the Royal Electromechanical Engineers in the U.K. Army and was tasked with recovering military vehicles damaged during the battle. Pearson, who plans to visit Korea with his wife for the first time in 69 years, expressed his expectation, saying, “I want to see the remarkable development of Korea that has happened again on the back of the lungs.”

Victoria Seacrest (69), the daughter of the late U.S. veteran Fred McGee, will visit South Korea as the bereaved family. McGee, who participated in the war in 1952, was fatally shot by a squad machine gunman and instead grabbed a machine gun and oxidized it against the enemy. In response, the U.S. federal government awarded the most honorable award a soldier can receive, the Medal of Honor and the Silver Star Medal. The South Korean government will also honor the deceased with the highest grade of the “Taegeuk Order of Merit” to mark the Day of the United Nations Armed Forces this year.

Meanwhile, veterans of 15 war-torn countries will also attend the “2025 Seoul International Veterans Forum” on the occasion of this visit. Participants will visit the War Memorial and Panmunjom Joint Security Area during their visit to Korea and attend a thank-you dinner presided over by the Minister of Veterans Affairs. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs also invited Lim Chang-soo (94) to the thank-you dinner, who helped him return safely in 77 days by hiding his U.S. counterpart Ralph Kilpatrick, who was 17 years old during the Korean War.

Minister of Veterans Affairs Kang Jeong-ae said, “Our government and people will forever remember and repay the sacrifices and contributions of heroes who risked their lives to protect the Republic of Korea.” He added, “We will continue to strengthen solidarity with 22 UN veterans through various international veterans projects, including invitations to UN veterans, local consolation and appreciation events, and exchanges of descendants of war veterans.”