27 June, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul reported to the Department that the United Nations Command (UNC), including the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK), was commended during the well-attended 58th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemorative Reception. The event was held in Seoul on 25 June.

Korean President Lee Myung-bak extended his government’s deep gratitude to the soldiers who came together under the United Nations flag, for defending South Korea during the Korean War in 1950-53. He praised the “soldiers who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and fought for a people they never met.” “We will remind the young generation and all future generations of your sacrifice and let them know exactly what your noble sacrifice means to all of us,” he added. The ceremony was attended by around 800 Korean and UNC war veterans from 16 countries. The Philippines was represented during the ceremony by Brig. Gen. Victorino T. Azada (Ret.) President of PEFTOK and Ambassador Luis T. Cruz.