SK supports memorial monument honoring Korean War figures

South Korea's SK Group announced on Thursday its support for the construction of a memorial monument honoring the late Colonel William E. Weber and General John Singlaub, two prominent figures symbolizing the South Korea-US alliance.

In partnership with the ROK-US Alliance Foundation, a foundation dedicated to veterans' welfare and strengthening the South Korea-US alliance, SK Group will provide funding for the sculpture, while the foundation will oversee its design and production. The memorial monument is scheduled to be erected in October of this year, adjacent to the US Forces Korea War Memorial in Pyeonghwa Nuri Peace Park, located in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

Colonel Weber, an officer in the engineering unit, played an active role in the Korean War, particularly in the Incheon Landing Operation and the Seoul Recapture Operation. Despite losing his right arm and leg in the Battle of Wonju, he made significant contributions to the reevaluation of the Korean War in the US. Notably, he spearheaded the establishment of the "Wall of Remembrance" in Washington, D.C., which features 19 statues of Korean War veterans and the names of fallen soldiers.

General Singlaub, another Korean War veteran, is highly regarded for his contributions to the South Korea-US alliance. He staunchly opposed the US government's decision to withdraw troops from South Korea in 1977.

Both Colonel Weber and General Singlaub passed away last year and were laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in the US.

An SK Group representative emphasized the significance of this year, marking both the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-US alliance and SK's founding. The representative expressed gratitude for the sacrifices made by Korean War veterans, which laid the foundation for the strong alliance and facilitated SK's growth, enabling Korea to emerge as a top 10 economic power.

Under the leadership of former Chairman Chey Jong-hyun, SK Group supported the education of exceptional students through study abroad programs in the US and provided Korean cultural experiences to American youth. As a testament to these contributions, he received the James A. Van Fleet Award from the Korea Society, a Korea-US friendship association, in 1998.

Chairman Chey Tae-won, heading the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies, expanded overseas study scholarships and furthered economic cooperation between the two countries, earning the same award in 2017. This achievement marked the first time that a father and son both received the Van Fleet Award.

In 2021, SK Group became the first Korean company to contribute $1 million to the construction of Colonel Weber's "Wall of Remembrance" project. Chairman Chey personally met with Annelie Weber, the widow of Colonel Weber, to express gratitude and emphasize the significance of remembrance.

Write to Jae-Fu Kim at hu@hankyung.com