By Kim Susan Se-jeong

War veterans who served in the Korean War (1950-1953) will revisit Korea to attend a series of memorials and commemorative ceremonies this month.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is inviting war veterans and their families in the Revisit Korea Program from June 23 to 28, in time for the 62nd anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25.

Those sacrificed themselves to fight for democracy and freedom from four countries will arrive to receive thanks and witness how their contribution helped the country.

A total of 122 war veterans and their family members from four United Nations countries have confirmed their attendance. This includes 83 visitors from the United States, 27 from Turkey, 6 from Ethiopia and 6 from Colombia.

Visitors will attend a variety of memorial events and services, including visits to memorial facilities, the Joint Security Area, banquets and ceremonies.

On June 26, following the commemorative ceremony on the previous day, the visitors will separate according to their country of origin and attend different memorial services.

Visitors from the United States will attend the memorial for the battle of Jipyeong-ri, in which an American infantry regiment fought off enemy troops under the United Nations command. Visitors from Turkey and Colombia will visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea, where soldiers from a number of U.N. countries who sacrificed their lives rest in peace. Visitors from Ethiopia will visit the monument in Chuncheon to offer flowers to the fallen soldiers.

On the last day, the war veterans and their families will attend a thank-you banquet hosted by Park Seung-choon, minister of patriots and veterans affairs.

About 120 war veterans and their families in May and about 200 in April visited Korea to learn about the country they helped protect.