Ambassadress to visit Mayo Peace Park to honour veterans of 'Forgotten War'

Hannah Y Kim, a Korean American woman with a mission, will be visiting the Mayo Peace Park on Wednesday next, August 14, to honour those who served in the so-called “Forgotten War” (1950-53) and to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales are the only three countries Kim has yet to visit during her worldwide odyssey, in which she’s visited a memorial in each country and documented the stories of 200 Korean War veterans.

“When I discovered the unknown stories of the Irish who fought in Korea, especially of those who died there, I knew I had to visit their homelands and pay tribute,” said Kim, who will be visiting memorials in Dublin, Mayo and Belfast from August 13 to 18.

Few people know that 159 people of Irish heritage (from both sides of the border) fought in Korea as part of the US/UK military and seven are still unaccounted for. In addition seven Irish Columban priests, who could have fled Korea but chose to stay, were martyred at the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. Currently, there are less than 10 Irish Korean War veterans living today.

Kim, who is the former chief of staff to a US Congress member, and the official Ambassadress of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation USA, has previously traveled across six continents to 27 countries that participated in the Korean War - including China, Russia and even North Korea. She also traveled to all 50 US states and four US territories to visit more than 100 Korean War Memorials and thank 1000 American Korean War Veterans.

“These unsung heroes fought for a country they did not know and never returned home,” said Kim. “Those who survived are almost 90 years old and passing away. I want to thank them and ensure their stories and sacrifices are not forgotten.”

Kim’s Journey will culminate on August 24. in a visit to the Irish Korean War Memorial at the Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

The memorial was built to honor 28 Irish-born soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their adopted country during the Korean War and who, on October 30, 2003, were made citizens of the United States by a Special Act of Congress.

The wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial is being organised by Ron Howko of the American Legion and the Mayo Peace Park Committee to take place on August 14 at 11.30 a.m. at the Mayo Peace Park.