Korean War veterans’ guardian honored

New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Patrick John Rata, right, presents Chi Kap-chong, chairman of the United Nations Korean War Allies Association, with an award for his contribution to Korea-New Zealand relations at his residence, on Sept. 24. / Courtesy of the New Zealand Embassy

New Zealand presented the New Zealand Order of Merit to a Korean War correspondent who began a revisiting program for veterans of the conflict for his contribution to promoting Korea-New Zealand relations on Sept. 24.

An awardee is Chi Kap-chong is chairman of the United Nations Korean War Allies Association.

New Zealand Ambassador Patrick John Rata said Wellington has been well aware of Chi’s five-decade long work to maintain ties between the two countries that began during the Korean War.

New Zealand dispatched nearly 6,000 young men to fight for freedom on the Korean Peninsula.

The story of Chi’s endeavors is little known.

He was a war correspondent for Reuters news agency during the Korean War. After the war, he worked for Yonhap News Agency in Seoul until he officially launched the Korean War Allies Association in 1962.

In 1958, he embarked on a five-month journey where he visited all 16 countries that had dispatched soldiers to fight in Korea.
He sold his orchard for the trip as “Yonhap didn’t have enough money to pay for the entire trip,” he said during a phone interview with the Korea Times.

Chi was behind a Korean War veterans revisiting program that began in 1975.

Operated by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the program so far has facilitated approximately 30,000 visits. Every year, 700 veterans are invited to Korea.

The chairman also erected the Korean War Participation Monument for the British Commonwealth in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, the very first war monument in Korea, serving as an inspiration for 12 other participation monuments and numerous battle monuments scattered across the country.

The presentation of the award to Chi comes as the two countries celebrate 20 years of diplomatic ties.

The New Zealand Embassy is organizing several events to recognize the occasion, such as appointing honorary ambassadors.

Lydia Ko, a teenage professional golfer and Korean immigrant to New Zealand, was appointed as a sports ambassador for the embassy last month. <The Korea Times/Kim Se-jeong>

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