▲ UN Korean War Allies Association / President Dugeon Kim

It＊s been more than 70 years since the Korean War ended in armistice, and while Korea has risen from the ashes of war to prosperity, many veterans and their families still struggle to make ends meet. We must never forget the noble sacrifices made by those who served our country.

The UN Korean War Allies Association is a 70-year-old civilian diplomatic organization that was founded by the Korean Committee of the Center for International Diplomacy. It has played a leading role at the forefront of Korea＊s security, veterans＊ affairs, and diplomacy, and has recently gained prominence for its engagement with UN participating countries, as well as its livelihood security initiatives for the country＊s war veterans.

Consolidation

The association is an organization recognized by the United Nations. For more than 70 years, it has been promoting friendship among veterans; strengthening national security diplomacy, overseas public relations, and cultural ties between its members and the people of Korea; and collecting, displaying, managing, and operating Korean War memorabilia. 

The association has so far erected 21 monuments at the battlefields of the Allied armies, held annual commemorative events for veterans and their families, and built and operated a comprehensive security exhibition center in Yeouido, Seoul.

During the time of the first Chairman Jeong Il-kwon, who served as Prime Minister, the 5th Chairman Ji Gap-jong served as Secretary-General and toured 21 participating countries. He served as a member of the 11th and 12th National Assembly. Since 1958, he has led tours of 21 participating countries of the United Nations and served as a member of the Association. With Ji Gap-jong’s death in 2021, Dugeon Kim is serving as the 6th president of the association. “I’ve been working with Ji for more than 20 years. My role is to manage and maintain and build on the work of past presidents.” said Kim.

Housing for war veterans

Recently, the association has gained attention for its work on public housing for veterans. “Fomer presidents of the association have always emphasized that the welfare of Korean Armed Forces veterans is poor compared to overseas veterans, and that we need to increase medical and public housing benefits.” said Kim.

There are about 890,000 veteran families across the country, including firefighters, military, veterans and widows, and about 35 percent of them live without a home of their own, according to the association.

Fortunately, in 2019, the association and the federation received a legal clarification through the legislature to allow them to proceed with their projects, classifying them as SOC businesses rather than housing.

The association is currently negotiating with 30 local housing associations nationwide, and is promoting projects to convert local housing associations into veterans’ public housing projects in Gyojeong, Busan, and Daelim, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. The plan is to complete 100 percent of the sales, with 50 percent going to the local housing association and 50 percent to veterans.

Kim said “Many people are struggling with their local housing association. It is estimated that 200,000 people have been affected. Now that the private sector is able to promote public housing and has received legal interpretations on how to proceed, we plan to return 100 percent of the profits to the national meritorious people and local housing association members through this project.”

Kim added  “The veterans’ public housing project is a project that saves local housing association members and relieves national veterans in need. The treatment and care of national veterans sets an example for the younger generation. The association is working with this sense of calling. We would like to encourage local housing association members who are in difficulties not to lose courage. We also hope that the public will join us in showing genuine warmth to our national heroes.”