New Delhi: India and South Korea Thursday signed a pact on veterans’ cooperation and jointly inaugurated the first-ever Indian War Memorial in the East Asian country.
The ceremony took place at the historic Imjingak Park—an enduring symbol of the division of the Korean peninsula—in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. It was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and South Korea’s Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA), Kwon Oh-eul.
Built by India’s Ministry of Defence to commemorate the 75th anniversary of New Delhi’s participation in the Korean War (1950–53), the 25-square-metre memorial honors the humanitarian legacy of India’s troops. In fact, it has been constructed in the same area where the Custodian Force of India (CFI) had established “Hind Nagar” in September 1954, an earmarked territory housing nearly 22,000 prisoners of war (POWs) till their repatriation.
Though India did not deploy combat troops in the conflict, it dispatched the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance, a 627-man medical unit that served as the largest medical support contingent during the war. Dubbed the “Maroon Angels”, the unit operated on the frontlines, treating thousands of wounded soldiers and civilians.
It was an absolute honour to attend the Inaugural Ceremony of the Indian War Memorial at Imjingak Park in Seoul. This ceremony marks the 75th anniversary of the Korean War and the memorial stands as a tribute to the courage, sacrifice and humanitarian service rendered by the 60… pic.twitter.com/IeLsyZN886
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 21, 2026
The newly unveiled structure features busts of two legendary Indian military figures at the forefront of the Korean War: Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Rangaraj, commanding officer of the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance, and General K.S. Thimayya, who later chaired the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC) to oversee peaceful return of thousands of POWs.
During the event, Minister Kwon Oh-eul presented a plaque, officially recognising the late Lt. Col. Rangaraj as South Korea’s “Korean War Hero of the Month” for March 2026. The honour was received by his descendant, Kalpana Prasad.
The ceremony was attended by senior officials from both countries, military representatives, veterans, members of the diplomatic community and distinguished guests.
Singh and Kwon also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on “International Veterans Affairs Cooperation”. Under the agreement, both countries will partner on archival research, exchange programs for the descendants of wartime veterans, and academic, educational and cultural projects highlighting the conflict’s global significance.
The agreement marks a strategic effort by both nations to leverage soft power and historical links to deepen the India-Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership, bringing a forgotten chapter of international diplomacy back into contemporary spotlight.
(Edited by Archishman Ganguly)
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