SEOUL, 21 September 2014 – Philippine Embassy officials, led by Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez, and Korean war veterans and government officials, led by Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Sungchoon, gathered at the War Memorial of Korea on Friday, 19 September 2014 to mark the 64th anniversary of the PEFTOK landing during the Korean War.

The two senior officials led 70 participants, including Lt. Gen. Lee Young-Gye, Director of the War Memorial, Col. James M Minnich, secretary of the UN Command Military Armistice Commission, Chi Kap-chong, chairman of the UN Korean War Allies Association and Lee Jung-woo, former president of the Korea Herald, in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Galleries.

The celebration was organized by the Philippine Embassy’s Defense and Armed Forces Attaché in Seoul Col. Francis L. Lardizabal.

In brief remarks, Minister Park recognized the importance Korea attached to the sacrifices made by the 7,420 officers and men of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) who served in Korea from 1950 to 1955. The minister cited in particular the heroism of Filipino troops at the Battle of Yultong, Battle of Hill Eerie, Battle of the Imjin River, among others.

Ambassador Hernandez recalled the day 1,400 men of the 10th Battalion Combat Team (BCT), the first of five Philippine BCTs, arrived at Busan port on 19 September 1950, calling on those gathered to remember “the unconditional support the Philippines extended to Korea at a time its very existence was in danger.”

“From that day forth, our relationship with the Republic of Korea has become stronger, not only as a neighbor, brother-in-arms, and ally, but potentially as a strategic partner for the future,” Ambassador Hernandez said, adding that the Philippines’ sacrifice had not been in vain as Korea had become a strong democracy and leading industrialized nation.

Less than three months after the North’s attack on 25 June 1950 against the South, the Philippines deployed troops overseas for the first time in history on 19 September 1959, thus becoming the first Asian country and the third UN member state (after the United States and Great Britain) out of 16 to send combat troops to the Korean War.

Excluding the United States and South Korea, the Philippines accounted for 112 of the total 3,000 soldiers killed in action from among the 15 other UN Command forces – a relatively small figure given the Philippine Army’s experience fighting Communist rebels. The other Filipino casualties were 313 wounded and another 16 men remain officially missing-in-action.

Earlier in the week, the Philippine Embassy through the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (DAFA) participated on Monday, 15 September 2014 in the 64th Incheon Landing Operation Commemoration Ceremony. The Philippine booth displayed traditional costumes, displayed historical photos of the PEFTOK troops and gave out tourism materials.

The Incheon Landing Operation Commemoration Ceremony is an annual official activity of Korea’s Ministry of National Defense to highlight the successful landing of the multi-national forces on 15 September 1950 and to pay tribute to Korean War veterans who fought together to establish a beachhead behind enemy lines at the Incheon landing 64 years ago.

The Incheon landing, which occurred on 15-19 September 1950, was a daring amphibious assault carried out by a force of 261 allied navy ships and 75,000 UN troops that led to the liberation of Seoul from North Korean forces. The victory was made possible through the sacrifices of UN troops with Korean service members.