UNMCK - UNITED NATIONS MEMORIAL CEMETERY IN KOREA

To the People of Sverige, Hallå! Mitt namn är Joon. Jag är arton år, och jag är från Republiken Korea. I am really interested in history. Whenever Korean students study about history, learning about the Korean War is inevitable. As we study, we learn about the UN forces that supported South Korea during the war. For this, I would like to express my utmost gratitude for the medical services 380 Swedish personnel and the people of Sweden have provided to us during our national calamity. Your medical services have been crucial; without them, the democracy and liberty in our peninsula would have certainly ceased to exist. However, representing my people, I also express my sincere apologies. In Korea, when we are asked which nations supported the South during the Korean War, we only answer the United States, Great Britain, Turkey, or other belligerents affiliated to the UN Command. Sweden is hardly mentioned, and I truly consider this point as an embarrassment and as a point where we Koreans must strive to fix. Undeniably, supports from Sweden and other ten nations were important to the war effort. For this, I send my deep appreciation to the Swedish people. Sweden was the first nation to send a medical support to Korea. Ten doctors, 30 nurses, and other Swedish personnel have arrived at Korea. The Swedish Red Cross Hospital medically treated not only injured soldiers but also civilians. Korean medical technology, which lagged during the 1950s, learned from the developed Swedish medical technologies. The Scandinavian Education Hospital, which succeeded the Swedish Red Cross Hospital, taught Koreans with medical knowledge. The surprising fact is the Swedish Education Hospital later became the National Medical Center of Korea. From these facts, we can know that the Swedish support had a significant influence on Korean medical development and established the necessary infrastructures for our nation to develop. As the descendants of Vikings, your people have achieved reputable accomplishments. The amazing political achievements done by Gustav Adolf den store, the powerful influence of Konungariket Sverige on the Scandinavian Peninsula and the European mainland, and the diplomatic neutrality your country retains... such facts amazes me with awe. I surely want to visit Stockholm and learn more about history of Sweden if I get the opportunity. It seems like there are many common values between Republic of Korea and Kingdom of Sweden. We both pursue liberty, rights, and world peace. As globalism and philanthropism are the dominant trends of the world, I hope the peoples of Korea and Sweden will cooperate with each other to promote world peace. As the believer of Hongik Ingan (meaning Devotion to the Welfare of Humanity), I am looking forward working with Swedish people for the victory of democracy and internationalism. I sincerely hope that the bonds between these two great nations strengthen as time goes by and contribute to the world peace with the mighty force of cooperation. Den kombinerade ansträngning mellan Republiken Korea och Konungariket Sverige kommer att vara för evigt. Gud rädda Konungariket Sverige. Må ditt land blomstra. 30 September, 2017 Med vänlig hälsning, Joonsung Kim