Seoul opens a center for Ethiopian Korean War veterans

Ethiopia was the only African nation to send ground troops in the conflict of 1950-53. Of his 3,500 soldiers, 122 were killed and 536 were injured. The structure in Ethiopia is the third of its kind. Nearly 2 million UN soldiers and over 3 thousand doctors were sent to war on the peninsula: 40,670 died, 104,280 were injured and over 9 thousand are still missing.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - South Korea has opened an assistance center in Ethiopia for Korean War veterans (1950-53) from the African nation. Located in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the two-storey 712.8 square meter surface structure was built thanks to the contribution of a South Korean multinational. Yesterday, the ribbon-cutting ceremony took place (photo). On November 6th, Seoul's Defense Ministry announced the end of works.

Ethiopia was the only African nation to send ground troops in the conflict between the two Koreas. The ministry says that of its 3,500 soldiers, 122 were killed and 536 were injured. About 150 veterans are still alive. The service center in Ethiopia is the third of its kind to be built as part of a project with which South Korea wishes to express gratitude for the commitment and sacrifice of foreign soldiers. Seoul explains that the first plant of this type was established in Bangkok in 2014 and the second in Bogotà, Colombia, in 2017.

According to data provided by the South Korean government, during the war between North and South nearly 2 million UN soldiers (UN) and over 3 thousand doctors were sent to the peninsula to counter the invasion ordered by the North Korean leader Kim Il-sung. Of these, 40,670 people died, 104,280 were injured and over 9 thousand are still missing.