Page 211 - 2020 Defence White Paper

sites, cultural experience programs, and field trips to national defense facilities,
broadening their understanding of Korean history and culture.
In November 2019, the MND organized the ROK–US Alliance Night dinner event
in celebration of the 51st SCM and invited around 500 guests including ROK and US
delegates to the SCM, key government officials, USFK and CFC servicemembers,
and the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) personnel.
During the dinner, the Minister of National Defense presented the ROK–US Alliance 10)
Awarded in 2013, Walton
Award to retired General John H. Tilelli Jr. , the recipient of the 7th General Paik Walker laid the groudwork
8)
for Incheon Landing by
Sun-Yup ROK–US Alliance Award. successfully defending the
Meanwhile, former US Secretary of Defense, James Mattis was selected as the front line of Nakdonggang
9)
River during the early stage
recipient of the 8th General Paik Sun- up ROK–US Alliance Award in 2020. The of the Korean War.
General Paik Sun- up ROK–US Alliance Award was created in 2013 in celebration 11)
Awarded in 2014, William
of the 60th anniversary of the ROK–US alliance to strengthen the value and meaning Weber is the chairman of
the Korean War Veterans
of the alliance, and is awarded to US personnel who have dedicated themselves to Memorial Foundation who
has actively campaigned
the alliance and the defense of the ROK. The honored recipients of the award during for better recognition of the
Korean War in the US
the past seven years include the late General Walton Walker, Colonel William
10)
12)
Weber, the late General James Van Fleet, Major General John Singlaub, the Awarded in 2015,
12)
11)
13)
James Van Fleet served Chapter 6
late General John Vessey, the late General Mark Clark, and General John Tilelli. in the Korean War as the
15)
14)
commander of the 8th
The USFK also runs various programs to enhance mutual understanding between US Army, also renovated
the ROK and the US The USFK officially launched the Good Neighbor Program the training system of the
ROK Armed Forces and
in 2003 for local communities, which involves open house events, local festivals, continued to contribute to
the ROK’s development
friendship dinners, visits to US military vessels, and English classes. The program after the end of the Korean
War.
has enabled cultural exchanges between the USFK and local communities, and helped
13)
enhance their understanding of each other. The USFK soldiers continue to work on Awarded in 2016, John
Singlab made a significant
building trust with local communities by supporting local residents and social welfare contribution in overcoming
the crisis on the Korean
facilities with typhoon recovery aid and briquette delivery, among others. Peninsula caused by the
"Panmunjom axe murder
Meanwhile, MND has been partici-pating in activities carried out by the "70th incident" and to the
creation of the CFC.
Anniversary of the Korean War Co-
14)
mmemoration Committee", a gover- Awarded in 2017, John
Vessey served as the first
nment-wide committee launched in Commander of the CFC
2020 to commemorate the 70th anni- and played a decisive role
in the creation of the CFC
versary of the outbreak of the Korean as the commander of the
USFK.
War. During the ROK Defense Mi-
15)
nister’s visit to the US in February Awarded in 2018,
Mark Clark, the former
2020, the Minister paid his respects to commander of the UNC,
negotiated and concluded
Korean War veterans by visiting and an armistice agreement as
The General Paik Sun-Yup ROK–US Alliance Award a representative of the UN
extending his gratitude to the veterans (November 2019) forces in the ROK.
Chapter 6. Developing a Robust ROK–US Alliance that is Mutually Complementary and Promoting Defense Exchanges and Cooperation