Colombia is
the only South American country that
participated in the Korean War.
Colombia Unveils Korean War Memorial
Nov.3,2008
Courtesy of the Ministry of
Patriots and Veterans
Affairs /Yonhap
A miniature model of
the Geobukseon, the ironclad turtle-shaped
warship that fended off Japanese invaders
during the late 16th century, will be
permanently exhibited in Colombia.
The Ministry of
Patriots and Veterans Affairs said on Sunday
that an unveiling ceremony for the model and
monument commemorating Colombia's
participation in the Korean War was held in
a port city of Cartagena on Saturday.
Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Kim
Yang, Ambassador to Columbia Hong Seong-hoa
and Colombia's Defense Minister Juan Manuel
Santos were present.
The Ministry of
Patriots and Veterans Affairs invested some
W 100 million (US$1=W1,295) to make the
miniature bronze Geobukseon, which stands
2.5 meters high and 4 meters long; about a
tenth scale of the original ship. The
Colombian Navy provided a permanent site for
the monument and exhibition of the turtle
ship. Colombia is the only South American
country that participated in the Korean War.
With a government
budget, the Ministry of Patriots and
Veterans Affairs has been donating monuments
commemorating the Korean War to countries
that dispatched troops to Korea. Nov. 1,
1950 is the day when Colombia sent troops in
the ship "Padilla" from the port of
Cartagena. Colombia is the only South
American country that participated in the
Korean War. It sent both army and navy,
totaling 5,100 troops. Of these, 214 died in
battle, and 448 were injured.
