(Unofficial Translation)

Fellow Koreans, relatives of U.N. Korean War veterans and distinguished guests from home and abroad,

Today marks the 68th anniversary of the Korean War armistice and 9th U.N. Forces Participation Day. For the first time since its founding, the United Nations dispatched forces to fight in the Korean War and deeply etched within the chapters of world history the fact that solidarity and cooperation can safeguard a nation’s liberty and peace. At a time when COVID-19 brings the preciousness of solidarity and cooperation home to all of us, it is truly meaningful to reflect on the significance of the U.N. forces’ participation in the Korean War.

Special guests are joining us today: Raymond Emil Kapaun and his wife Lee Kapaun as well as Katherine Elisabeth Khan and Imagine Paige Smith. Mr. Kapaun is the nephew of Father Emil Joseph Kapaun, a U.S. Army chaplain called “the Jesus of the Korean War,” and Ms. Khan and Ms. Paige Smith are the grandniece and great-grandniece of General Colin Nicholas Khan, who served as Platoon Commander for the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, during the war. They have come a long way, having weathered difficulties caused by COVID-19. They have my heartfelt gratitude.

A moment ago, two students introduced us to the lives of devotion led by two heroes, Father Emil Kapaun and General Khan. Byun Sung-moon is a student at Gwangju’s Salesian High School which carries on the spirit of Father Kapaun, and Won Ye-seul is attending Gapyong High School in Gyeonggi-do Province where the Australian Embassy in Korea provides a scholarship in commemoration of the Battle of Kapyong. The profound friendship forged by the Korean War is represented in all of this.

Today, on behalf of our people, I award Father Kapaun and General Khan the Order of Merit. So far, the prime minister has presented medals on the U.N. Forces Participation Day. However, today, I will become the first president of Korea to fulfill this glorious mission. I hope the spirit of these two heroes who protected liberty and peace will be remembered forever in the hearts of our people.


Fellow Koreans,

In March this year, 70 years after his death, Father Kapaun’s remains were located at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, where unidentified soldiers are laid to rest. It is like a miracle. Father Kapaun showed his unwavering courage to safeguard liberty, peace and his faith in an extreme situation when he was injured and taken prisoner. In addition, he practiced great love by attending to the wounded and praying for enemy troops while officiating Mass.

Through Father Kapaun’s life, our people could sense a love for humanity which possesses the power to generate hope, and his spirit became the root of service among the Republic of Korea’s Catholic military chaplains.

In 1993, the Vatican conferred the title “Servant of God” upon Father Kapaun. Now, the canonization process is underway to revere him as a saint. The Catholic Church in Korea, including Archbishop Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, are working hard to see Father Kapaun canonized through beatification.

The priest’s holy life will become a great spiritual legacy not only for those of us in the United States and Korea but for all of humanity. I hope that today’s medal provides warm encouragement to his bereaved family and many of those who carry on his spirit. 

In April 1951, Australian troops, along with others from the British Commonwealth Forces Korea, fought for three days and nights in Gapyeong and blocked the enemy’s recapturing of Seoul. General Khan was a valiant Platoon Commander for the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. In November 1952, he narrowly escaped death from a serious injury. After the war, he was at the forefront of the efforts to promote Korea’s development, crisscrossing Australia. General Khan could not be with us here, but he is in good health back in his home country.

We will long remember the General and other Australian war veterans who fought side by side with Korean troops during the war and have been of a great help with our post-war recovery. I hope that today’s medal will serve as a small token of our appreciation for the General’s dedication and that he remains beside us for a long time.

Fellow Koreans, relatives of U.N. Korean War veterans and distinguished guests from home and abroad,

The noble sacrifice and dedication of Father Kapaun and General Khan as well as the 1.95 million U.N. veterans from 22 countries have become a source of the Republic of Korea’s pride and self-esteem. So far, the Government has arranged visits by veterans and their families to Korea, held events overseas to express appreciation, conducted exchange camps for future generations and ran scholarship programs for their descendants. In March last year, the Act on the Promotion of Honor for U.N. Korean War Veterans was also enacted.

Reflecting on the blood ties forged during the course of the War, the Government will repay the sacrifice and dedication of the veterans. Through solidarity and cooperation with the international community, we will together ride out crises facing the world, such as COVID-19 and climate change.

Once again, my deepest respect goes to these two heroes – Father Kapaun and General Khan – and other veterans, and I wish all of you here good health and happiness.

Thank you.