Korean group concludes visit honoring war dead

  Twenty-five members of the Memorial Service Association for the Deceased Compatriots Overseas from Korea were on island last week for their 35th annual memorial service honoring Koreans who died in the Northern Marianas during World War II.

The group, led by president Yong Taek Lee, arrived early Friday morning and flew out to Tinian to conduct memorial service there.

They came back on the same day and in time for a dinner reception hosted by former Korean Association of Saipan president Tony Lim at the Saipan World Resort Lilac Room at 6:30pm last June 29.

Island leaders joined the group at the event, including Mayor Donald G. Flores; associate judge David Wiseman; Reps. Sylvestre Iguel and Joseph Palacios; Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Douglas Brennan; Laolao Bay Golf & Resort president Sang Ho Boo, vice presidents Tetsuya Matsunaya and Sang Joon Kang, and chief accountant Sun Wook Kim; World Resort president Jong Tae Park and sales director Juko Ishigawa; Asiana Airlines general manager Sung Nam Park, Korean Women’s Association president Sung Gum Lee; and Korean Athletic Association president Tae Young Han.

Association president Lee, who started the memorial service upon assuming his post 35 years ago, said in his native tongue and translated by P&A’s Walter Yu at Friday night’s reception that the memorial service is a meaningful event for those who are still around to commemorate those who have passed away.

Lee, who also served in the 11th and 12th legislature of South Korea and the Republic of Korea Army, said the event also aims to stop violence and war in the world and to live in peace altogether since all mankind are brothers regardless of their ethnic backgrounds.

During the reception, Flores presented Lee with a certificate of recognition and appreciation for the association’s desire to come back to the CNMI and pray for the souls of their compatriots for their sacrifices.

On June 30 at 11am, the association held a one-hour memorial service at the Korean War Memorial Monument in Marpi, where the visiting group was joined by other officials, including Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Perry Tenorio, Korean Guam Consul General Hyun Soo Park, and Korean Association of Saipan vice president Jae Yeol Lim.

Saturday’s service began with the offering of flowers and the Pledge of Allegiance to Korea. Eulogy was delivered by president Youn Tong Chung of the Citizens Assembly of Kyoung-book and Daegu and Daegu University board member Kunyong Rhee.

In his remarks, consul general Park urged the audience to keep in their minds the importance of peace and liberty and wished all of them good luck and good health.

For his part, Flores said that the memorial monument is a reminder to everyone that the war is costly both economically and emotionally, and called on everyone to “lead a life of respect” to one another despite differences in culture and religion.

The group concluded the memorial service with the incense burning.

By Clarissa V. David
Reporter