The ambitious vision to build a memorial park for U.N. veterans in central Seoul has gained significant momentum following a high-level meeting between South Korean and U.S. representatives. Lee Young-hoon, chairman of the Korean War U.N. Veterans Memorial Association, and John Tilelli, chairman of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation, signed a formal agreement during the meeting in Virginia. The project seeks to preserve historical truths from the 1950-53 Korean War and symbolize the enduring alliance forged during the conflict.
Lee Young-hoon, chairman of the Korean War U.N. Veterans Memorial Association and senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, reaffirmed the joint commitment during a meeting with the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation (KWVMF) in Virginia on Tuesday (local time). John Tilelli, a former commander of U.S. Forces Korea, joined him in signing a formal agreement and issuing a joint statement to cooperate on establishing the tentatively named "U.N. Veterans Memorial Park" in Seoul.
The project aims to preserve historical truths and stand as a symbol of the unwavering alliance forged during the 1950-53 Korean War, a brutal three-year struggle that ended in a stalemate with an armistice agreement, resulting in the division of the Korean Peninsula into North and South, demarcated by the Demilitarized Zone.
The association, officially launched in November 2025 following an inaugural assembly, was founded to ensure that the noble sacrifices of young soldiers from the U.S. and 15 other nations are never forgotten. Lee has consistently emphasized that this project is a long-term commitment to preserve the historical truth of their sacrifice for future generations.
Under the partnership, the Korean association will lead site selection, coordinate with the South Korean government, and launch a nationwide public fundraising campaign. The U.S.-based KWVMF has pledged to provide technical expertise and leverage its international network for the project's global reach.
The memorial is expected to draw inspiration from the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., featuring 19 servicemen statues and a Wall of Remembrance with names of over 45,000 fallen soldiers. To raise public awareness, the Korean delegation invited U.S. officials to the Korea-U.S. Friendship Peace Concert scheduled for June 20 at Seoul Arts Center.
