대한민국 재향군인회 영국지회

The Korean Veterans Association (KORVA) was founded in Busan in 1952 during the height of the Korean War by 30,000 discharged servicemen. In 1963, it was officially recognised as a legal corporate body under the KORVA Act passed by the National Assembly. Headquartered in Seoul, the KORVA has expanded globally with branches in every city, county, and workplace in Korea, alongside 24 overseas branches, boasting a proud membership of over 10 million.

Following the establishment of the Germany branch, the UK branch was proudly founded in New Malden, Surrey on May 2, 2011. Today, the UK, Germany, and France branches operate as the three pillars of KORVA activity across Europe.

The Korean War marks the first and only instance in world history where the United Nations mobilised regular forces from member nations to protect a single country and defend global peace. While the United States deployed the largest number of troops, the United Kingdom – our home today – made the second-largest contribution, sending between 56,000 and 80,000 brave personnel to defend the freedom of the Republic of Korea.

On behalf of the Korean government and its people, the KORVA UK branch has long served as a vanguard of grassroots diplomacy by organising regular commemorative events to express our profound gratitude to British Korean-War veterans.

However, we have now reached a significant turning point. The surviving British veterans are now well into their 90s. Gathering these aged heroes in one place for large-scale events or inviting them on return visits to Korea is no longer feasible. Consequently, we must look beyond traditional, large-scale gatherings. We now face a crucial shift in our approach: a paradigm shift focused not only on how to provide attentive personal care for them today, but also on how to pass down their noble sacrifice and devotion to future generations so that their legacy is never forgotten.

The peace and prosperity we enjoy today exist solely because 8,000 kilometers away, in an unfamiliar land, thousands of young British personnel sacrificed everything. It is our solemn duty to ensure they are cared for and honored in their twilight years.

I sincerely wish peace, health, and happiness to all of you who continue to support the KORVA UK branch.

Thank You As Always