South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs recently hosted the 2026 International Conference on Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. The conference theme was: "Freedom is Never Free - Honoring the Peace and Freedom Achieved Together." Normally held in South Korea, this iteration brought together veterans and descendants from Allied nations and aimed at passing down the knowledge and legacies of the Korean War. The attached article, written by a Korean Veteran, focuses on descendants’ experience and provides information on how to participate in future Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs events.
Canada played a prominent role in the conference. Canadians Tanner MacDonald and Kayden Kavanaugh participated alongside Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Canadian Youth Ambassador Rachel Cote. During the conference, youth delegates shared presentations on preserving memories, honoured fallen troops at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and networked with international delegates.
For those interested in participating in future South Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs events — including international conferences, youth outreach programs, and the annual summer Youth Camp in South Korea—the organizers are compiling a directory of Korean War Veterans descendants. To register, contact the South Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Youth Ambassador Asia Campbell by emailing:
Submissions should include:
- Name of the Veteran
- Nation of the Veteran
- Branch of Service
- Year served in Korea (if known)
- Descendant names and their relationship to the veteran (e.g., granddaughter)
- Email address for future notifications
For assistance in determining a Canadian Veteran's Korean War Service, see: https://cmea-agmc.ca/en/searching-korean-war-sapper-veterans