Italian's illustrations mark 70th anniversary of Korean War's outbreak

By Honorary Reporter Lagdani Safae from Italy

Illustration= Lagdani Safae

Italy's Medical Support
Italy sent 128 combat medics to the Korean War. In 1951, an Italian medical support unit was sent to help treat and revive the injured, operating at the 68th Red Cross Hospital. It treated 7,041 patients before its mission ended in 1955. Members treated the injured by increasing the number of beds from 120 to 200, and remained in Korea for a year after the armistice was signed in July 1953.

In recognition of the unit's dedicated service, the Korean government awarded the Geumseong Order of Military Merit and the Silver Medal in August 1954 to the unit's head and the head nurse. In December of the same year, the unit received a presidential citation.

Holo Arirang

The 2003 Korean song "Holo Arirang," based on the classic folk song "Arirang," mentions landmarks such as Baekdusan Mountain in present-day North Korea, Arirang Hill in Gangwon-do Province, Hallasan Mountain on Jeju Island and Dokdo Island in the East Sea. This drawing shows these landmarks as symbols of hope for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

This illustration symbolizes the hope of Korean families separated by the Korean War to reunite in the near future under a reunified Korea. When I watched videos of these families, I felt joy when seeing those fortunate enough to reunite with their lost relatives. The tree at the center of this illustration is the one planted by President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2018 as a symbol of peace and prosperity on the inter-Korean border. The tree signifies the breaking down of the Cold War and the opening of a new era of peace between the two Koreas. Soil from the mountains Hallasan and Baekdusan were mixed and sprinkled on top was water from the Hangang and Daedonggang rivers.

chaey0726@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.