23 blue lights at Gwanghwamun Square to honor the sacrifices of UN veterans

[Financial News] On the 11th, International Memorial Day for UN Veterans, 23 blue lights will be switched on at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul to honor the sacrifices of the countries that fought in the Korean War and their veterans. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would hold a commemorative event that day at the Garden of Gratitude in Gwanghwamun Square to remember UN veterans and give citizens an opportunity to express their gratitude.
The centerpiece of the event is the special lighting of “Light of Gratitude 23” at 8 p.m. Twenty-three blue lights symbolizing the UN will turn on one by one in the order in which the countries joined the war. The lights will be switched on and off 23 times to honor the commitment of the countries that fought in the war and their veterans.
A memorial program that citizens can take part in will also be offered. The city plans to provide free light-emitting diode (LED) candles to people visiting the square after sunset so they can gather for a time of remembrance around “Light of Gratitude 23.”
A space for writing messages of gratitude to veterans will also be set up. Messages left by citizens will be displayed through the 15th in a memorial area along the stairwell wall of Freedom Hall, an underground space in the Garden of Gratitude.
Commemorative photo props will be provided at the site, and a memorial event using social media (SNS) will also be held. Citizens and foreign tourists will be able to share messages of remembrance using hashtags such as “#UNVeteransInternationalMemorialDay_Gwanghwamun” and “#GardenofGratitude.”
The Garden of Gratitude, where the event will be held, is a space created at Gwanghwamun Square to remember the sacrifices of the countries that fought in the Korean War and their veterans. Above ground, “Light of Gratitude 23,” which expresses gratitude to the countries that fought in the war, has been installed. In the underground Freedom Hall, media content presents the history of the Korean War and the development of the Republic of Korea.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government organized the event so that citizens who have difficulty visiting the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan in person can take part in the commemoration in the city center. It plans to continue using the Garden of Gratitude as a public space where citizens can reflect on veterans’ sacrifices and the value of peace.
Kang Seok, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Balanced Development Headquarters, said, “The freedom and peace enjoyed by the Republic of Korea today were possible thanks to the sacrifices and dedication of UN veterans,” adding, “I hope this memorial event will remain a cherished memory in citizens’ everyday lives and serve as an opportunity for us to reflect together on the values of freedom and peace.”

[email protected] Seong Cho-rong Reporter