Hyundai Motor Group said on the 2nd that, together with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, it will begin repairs and environmental improvements at two local memorial facilities in the Philippines: the Korean War monument at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (National Heroes' Cemetery) and the Korean War Memorial Hall.
The Philippines is an allied nation that was the first in Asia and the third in the world to send troops to the Korean War. It established diplomatic relations with Korea in Mar. 1949, marking the 77th anniversary this year.
The Korean War monument at the National Heroes' Cemetery in Manila, the Philippine capital, and the Korean War Memorial Hall were built to honor the dedication of five combat battalions of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK), totaling 7,420 service members and their families who were deployed during the Korean War.
Erected in 1967, the monument at the National Heroes' Cemetery is a memorial expressing gratitude for the sacrifice and dedication of the veterans. In 2009, repair work was carried out under the lead of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (then the National Veterans Affairs Office) to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and this time Hyundai Motor Group, in cooperation with the ministry this year, will give it a fresh makeover.
Starting this month, Hyundai Motor Group will begin refurbishing the monument, repairing cracks and discolored sections and proceeding with a full replacement of the marble on the steps and floor areas around the monument. On-site, facility information boards and symbolic installations will be added to help veteran families and tourists find the location more easily.
Located about 1.2 kilometers from the monument, the Korean War Memorial Hall was built in 2012 and comprises a museum and a library that exhibit and preserve records and historical materials from the Korean War.
Hyundai Motor Group, together with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA), will repair the building and replace furniture and other items in the facility. It also plans to review whether to remodel the facility to increase the memorial hall's utilization going forward.
Beginning with these improvements to the memorial facilities for veterans in the Philippines, Hyundai Motor Group plans to work with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) to actively review environmental upgrades to local memorial facilities for veterans in the 22 United Nations member states that sent forces to the Korean War.
In addition, they plan to cooperate in preserving and managing historic sites of independence movements in each country. They will assess the status of veterans' memorial facilities in the participating countries and overseas independence movement sites, and, leveraging Hyundai Motor Group's capabilities, will also review private-sector approaches for building content and activating the spaces.