LG said on the 21st it will sponsor the visit to Korea of the heroes and descendants of Ethiopia's "Kagnew Unit," who fought and gave their lives for the Republic of Korea during the Korean War.
The "Kagnew Choir," composed of 34 descendants of Ethiopian veterans, and surviving veteran Tesfaye Asmamaw will hold a variety of events in Korea for 36 days starting on the 22nd.
LG decided to fully fund the Ethiopian delegation's stay, including air tickets and lodging. The nonprofit Warm Day, which is hosting and organizing the events, has carried out support programs for veterans of Ethiopia's Kagnew Unit since 2016. In 2018, it launched the Kagnew Choir and has been providing music education and conducting international cultural exchanges.
Ethiopia is the only African country that sent ground troops to the Korean War. At the decision of Emperor Haile Selassie, it dispatched the Kagnew Unit, the Imperial Guard. The Kagnew Unit set a record of 253 wins in 253 engagements on the central front line during the war, leaving not a single prisoner behind. During the war, 122 members of the Kagnew Unit were killed and 536 were wounded.
The Kagnew Choir will attend the "International Veterans' Affairs and Peace Project Concert" at the National Assembly on the 24th and the "76th anniversary of the Korean War" ceremony in Suwon on the 25th. On the 25th, they are also scheduled to sing the national anthem at the professional baseball game between the LG Twins and the Samsung Lions at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. The delegation will conclude its schedule with a commemorative performance on "UN Forces Participation Day" on the 27th of next month.
In addition to this sponsorship, LG has steadily continued social contribution activities for Ethiopia.
In cooperation with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Ethiopian government, LG built the "LG-KOICA Hope Vocational Training School" in 2014, a technical education institution, and has been providing quality IT skills training to local youth. It has also offered internship opportunities at LG Electronics Middle East and Africa Service Corporation to outstanding graduates, nurturing some 600 local youths as industrial talent over the past 13 years.
An LG official said, "The Kagnew Choir's visit to Korea will not only honor the noble sacrifices of Ethiopian veterans, but also serve as a meaningful opportunity to engage with the next generation through music," adding, "We will continue meaningful social contribution activities that fulfill our social responsibilities, without forgetting those who devoted themselves to the Republic of Korea."