The Philippines was the first Asian country and the third in the world to send troops to the Korean War, and it marks the 77th anniversary this year of establishing diplomatic relations with South Korea, the company said.
The two sites were built to honor the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea, or PEFTOK — five combat battalions totaling 7,420 troops — and their families, it said.
The monument at the National Shrine of Heroes was built in 1967 to express gratitude for veterans’ sacrifice and service. It was renovated in 2009 to mark the 60th anniversary of Korea-Philippines diplomatic ties under the ministry, then known as the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Hyundai Motor Group said it will now refurbish the site in cooperation with the ministry.
The monument is a triangular pillar about 7 meters (23 feet) tall. At the top are the United Nations emblem and the national flags of South Korea and the Philippines. Below are the names of all 112 PEFTOK members who were killed in action, the company said.
Hyundai Motor Group said it will begin work this month, repairing cracks and discoloration, replacing marble on nearby steps and flooring, and installing an information sign and a symbolic sculpture to make the site easier for veterans’ families and visitors to find.
The group also plans repairs at the Philippine Korean War Memorial Hall, about 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) from the monument. Built in 2012, it includes a museum and library that display and store records and historical materials from the war. The company said it will replace furnishings and carry out a full building repair, and will also review whether additional remodeling is needed to increase use of the facility.
Hyundai Motor Group said it will use the Philippines project as a starting point to work with the ministry on broader reviews of environmental improvements at Korean War memorial sites in other countries that sent troops.
It also said it plans to cooperate on preserving and managing overseas sites tied to Korea’s independence movement, checking conditions at both types of locations and considering ways to build content and revitalize spaces using the group’s capabilities.
“Preserving Korean War memorial sites and independence movement historic sites is a way to pass historical value to future generations,” a Hyundai Motor Group official said. “We will work with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to honor the noble spirit of overseas veterans and independence activists.”
Separately, the group said it is running a range of community-focused programs in the Philippines. They include “Hyundai Wheels on the Go!” to support disaster victims by providing vehicles and supplies to help civil society respond directly to emergencies.
It also cited the “Hope in a Bag Project,” which provides daily necessities to youths in vulnerable groups and to students in disaster-affected areas, and the “Hyundai Accelerate Program,” which offers technical training to youths seeking jobs in the auto industry. The group said it also supports vulnerable youths through the Chung Mong-Koo Foundation.
Philippine daily Philstar was quoted as saying Hyundai Motor Group’s community programs in the country provide practical and effective help in disaster-hit areas.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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