Honoring Veterans Across South Korea: Shincheonji Volunteer Group’s Summer Remembrance Campaign

During the heat of late July, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group carried out a series of meaningful civic engagement and patriotism campaigns across South Korea. By combining summer relief initiatives—such as distributing cold water and ice coffee—with interactive programs to honor 6·25 War veterans, these events aimed to expand the spirit of remembrance beyond national holidays and into everyday life.

Here is a look at the patriotic activities held in Incheon, Busan, Pohang, and Cheongju.

Incheon: History Exploration and Eco-Plogging at Palmido Island

On July 26, the Seoincheon and Gyeyang branches of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group joined forces with the Marine Sea Saver Movement Headquarters to host a combined veterans honor and environmental cleanup campaign at Palmido Island.

• Key Activities:

  1. Historical Education: Participants visited the Palmido Lighthouse Museum and listened to veteran Lee Il-pyo explain the historical significance of the Incheon Landing Operation and the value of peace.

  2. Remembrance & Cleanup: After taking part in the “6·25 Veterans Remembrance Campaign,” participants conducted a plogging activity (picking up trash while walking/jogging) along Palmido’s historic sites and coastal trails.

"Palmido is the starting point of the Incheon Landing Operation and holds a rich history of defending our nation. We will continue our efforts to remember the sacrifices of our veterans while preserving our environment." — Choi Seung-eon, Vice Branch Manager of Seoincheon Branch

Busan: Interactive Educational Exhibition at Gwangalli Beach

On July 25, the Busan Dongbu branch, in collaboration with the Suyeong-gu Volunteer Center, held the “Wise Summer Life: 6·25 War Veterans Remembrance Campaign” along the Gwangalli Beachfront.

• Key Activities:

1. Photo Exhibition & Docent Tours: Displayed photographs and stories of 6·25 War veterans, with volunteers serving as docents to share historical accounts.

2. Interactive Booths for Families:

   • Handprint Taegeukgi: Creating a national flag using handprints.

   • Finding Heroes in Ice: An activity where children searched for hidden hero badges inside ice blocks.

   • Thank-You Cards: Writing messages of gratitude to war veterans.

3. Heatwave Relief: Free bottled water and iced coffee were provided to visitors to help them cool down.

Pohang: Taegeuk Drinks and Direct Heart-to-Heart Connections

At Yeongildae Beach, the Pohang branch organized a special outreach titled “Wise Summer Life: Adding Coolness to Gratitude” to offer refreshment to citizens and convey appreciation to war veterans.

• Key Activities:

  1. Taegeuk Drinks & Gratitude Letters: Citizens created Korean flag-themed "Taegeuk drinks" and wrote personal appreciation letters to 6·25 War veterans.

  2. A Veteran's Response: A national veteran visiting the site read the heartfelt letters left by citizens and wrote a handwritten reply back, expressing gratitude and wishing for the bright future of Pohang.

  3. Hydration Support: Free ice water was distributed to beachgoers to prevent heat-related illnesses.

"We hope this event provided a moment of relief from the heat while helping citizens remember the sacrifices of the 6·25 veterans who made today's Korea possible." — Choi Jeong-hyeon, Pohang Branch Manager

Cheongju: Connecting Citizens with UN Veterans Day

On July 27, marking UN Forces Participation Day, the Cheongju branch hosted “Wise Summer Life: Act 1” at Sonamugil (Pine Tree Street) in Sangdang-gu, Cheongju.

• Key Activities:

1. Heatwave Safety Awareness: Volunteers handed out cold bottled water and traditional hand fans while informing citizens of summer safety guidelines.

2. Card Writing Campaign: Citizens wrote cards filled with gratitude and encouragement directed to 6·25 War veterans, fostering a culture of remembrance within the local community.

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