[EXCLUSIVE] Korean War Memorial: Indian Govt, not Korea to make it

New Delhi. March 11, 2019. In a major policy shift on the proposed Korean War Memorial to come up in New Delhi, it will be constructed on the lines of National War Memorial complex recently inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi. And also this project will be taken up by the Indian government, not the Korean government as was declared earlier.

Korean War Memorial – a mark of remembrance for the Indian soldiers, who took part in the South-North Korean war 1950-53, was planned to be built by the Korean Government in diplomatic enclave Chanakyapuri in New Delhi as was disclosed by the Korean ambassador to India Shin Bong-kil on October 16 last year.

“Though the Korean government will be involved but now focus has shifted from Korean to Indian government and it will make the memorial for the veterans. The Korean War Memorial will be there to commemorate the sacrifice of the Indian soldiers. It would be more appropriate if the Indian government makes that memorial,” Yoo Chang-ho, the Minister Counselor for Political Affairs, Embassy of Republic of Korea told Asian Community News (ACN) Network.

Please read: https://www.asiancommunitynews.com/korean-war-memorial-to-come-up-in-new-delhi/

When reminded of the Korean ambassador who had made the announcement in October that Korean government will make the memorial, Chang-ho said since then it has changed.

“It will be like the memorial unveiled recently, and the Indian government thought that the same kind of logic should be applied there too,” he added.

The National War Memorial complex, spread across 40 acres, includes a central obelisk, an eternal flame, and six bronze murals depicting famous battles fought by the Army, the Air Force and the Navy.

The design includes four concentric circles, namely, the ‘Amar Chakra’ or Circle of Immortality, the ‘Veerta Chakra’ or Circle of Bravery, the ‘Tyag Chakra’ or Circle of Sacrifice, and the ‘Rakshak Chakra’ or Circle of Protection.

Apart from the soldiers who were killed in the wars in 1947, 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999, the names of the soldiers who died while on Indian Peace Keeping Force Operations in Srilanka are also inscribed on the memorial.

When asked was there any change on the location of the Korean War Memorial, Chang-ho said that the spot should be same but he was not sure of that.

When asked the role of Korean government, he said it is in close coordination with Korean war veterans, Indian medical officers who went to Korea as they too would will be involved.

“Korean embassy too will be involved but the money will come from Indian government. Hopefully, we can be involved in design,” Chang-ho said adding that over 600 medical officers went to Korea during the war and over 6000 custodian forces after the war ended to oversee the prisoners exchange negotiations.

India had sent medical troupes not to fight but to heal the wounded Korean soldiers in 1950, just three years after Indian independence and that shows Indian involvement in Korea and it was a manifestation of love for Korea.

“Koreans don’t forget things like this and value very much,” Chang-ho asserted.

(For feedback, please write to editor@asiancommunitynews.com)