HD Hyundai Construction & Equipment and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Erect a "Wall of Remembrance" for the the 25th War in Ethiopia

HD Hyundai Construction & Equipment announced on the 11th that it held an unveiling ceremony for the "Ethiopia Wall of Remembrance," honoring 122 fallen soldiers who participated in the the 25th War, at the Cathedral of St. Trinity in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, together with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

The event was attended by President Moon Jae-young of HD Hyundai Construction & Equipment, Lee Seung-jin, International Cooperation Officer for Veterans' Benefits at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Koo Hong-seok, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ethiopia, a representative from the Ethiopian Ministry of National Defense, Orthodox Church officials, veterans, and bereaved families. November 11 is also designated as the "International Day of Remembrance for UN War Veterans," established to honor the sacrifices and contributions of United Nations forces that participated in the the 25th War and to reflect on the values of freedom and peace.

The construction of the Wall of Remembrance was pursued as part of the "Memorandum of Cooperation for the Construction of a Memorial Facility for UN War Veterans" signed between HD Hyundai Construction & Equipment and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in May last year. At that time, both parties agreed to establish a memorial facility honoring the dignity of veterans at the sites of UN participating countries and selected Ethiopia as the first location for construction.

The remains of Ethiopian fallen soldiers were originally buried underground beneath the Cathedral of St. Trinity but were reburied in a new above-ground cemetery within the cathedral grounds in April last year. Along with this, efforts were made to create a separate memorial facility to honor the sacrifices of veterans and promote their dignity. HD Hyundai Construction & Equipment provided full funding for the construction, completing the Wall of Remembrance in approximately five months.

Individual nameplates engraved with the names of the 122nd fallen soldiers have been attached to the newly established Wall of Remembrance. Messages of gratitude and remembrance are inscribed in Hangul, English, and Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. The valiant image of Kagnew unit members marching alongside a lion, a symbol of Ethiopia, is engraved on a plaque to commemorate the history of participation in the war.

HD Hyundai Construction & Equipment plans to continue cooperation for the future generations and industrial development of Ethiopia. First, it is promoting the establishment of an education center with local institutional investors to train specialized construction machinery personnel needed for Ethiopia's infrastructure development and industrial growth. Through this, it will provide opportunities for construction equipment operation and maintenance training to local youth, including descendants of veterans. It also plans to contribute to securing specialized personnel and creating jobs.

Minister Kwon Oh-eul of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs stated in his congratulatory address, "I find it very meaningful that the names of Ethiopian heroes who displayed their fighting spirit for the freedom and peace of the Republic of Korea and died gloriously in battle will be permanently engraved locally." He added, "The government will do its best not only to repay the UN war heroes who showed passionate humanity beyond national borders, but also to ensure that descendants of the Republic of Korea and participating countries can remember and inherit the history of participation and solidarity."

President Moon Jae-young stated, "I hope the Wall of Remembrance becomes a space that remembers the noble sacrifices of Ethiopian veterans who dedicated themselves to the Republic of Korea and passes on their spirit to future generations." He added, "Going forward, we will contribute to the industrial and economic development of Ethiopia through continuous cooperation, such as training young technical personnel, and fulfill our role and responsibility as a company."

Meanwhile, Ethiopia was the only African country to dispatch ground troops during the the 25th War. Approximately 3,500 personnel participated, including the elite Kagnew unit composed of royal guards, achieving a record of "253 battles, 253 victories." In the process, 122 soldiers were killed in action.