Honoring the Living History: Shincheonji Hwagok Church Preserving the Legacy of Korean War Veterans
While spring has arrived with blooming flowers, many Korean War veterans still live in a "cold winter" of loneliness and poverty. As the generation that witnessed the tragedy of war rapidly fades, the Bartholomew Tribe Hwagok Church has stepped up, not just with supplies, but with a heart for true peace. The Urgency of "Now": A Race Against Time To understand the significance of this work, we must look at the numbers. According to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, of the 900,000 soldiers who fought in the Korean War, only about 30,216 remain today —a staggering 96.6% decrease . With an average age of 93, these heroes are often left in the shadows of society. "I can still hear my comrades crying out for help amidst the shells," shares Lim Jeong-taek, head of the Yangcheon branch of the Veterans Association. Recognizing this urgency, Shincheonji Hwagok Church has dedicated the past five years to ensuring these voices are heard before they disap...