By Contributor
Horn News Hub | Tuesday, June 30, 2026 |122 Citizens Participate in Blood Donation Campaign Commemorating Korean War Veterans
The “Global Peace and Life-Sharing Academy for the Cessation of War” was held in Damyang, South Jeolla Province, on June 20, bringing together around 600 participants, including Ethiopian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Dessie Dalkie Dukamo, Damyang County Mayor-elect Park Jong-won, members of civil society, religious leaders, diplomats and citizens. Co-organized by HWPL Global Branch 02, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Peace Practice Committee and local civic organizations, the event aimed to commemorate Korea’s Month of Patriots and Veterans while promoting the values of life sharing and peace.
Ethiopia was the only African nation to dispatch ground troops as part of the UN forces during the Korean War. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1963, the two countries have maintained exchanges and cooperation based on their shared history.
The program included a plaque presentation expressing gratitude to Korean War participant countries, along with congratulatory messages from domestic and international figures. Ambassador Dessie Dalkie Dukamo said that the event provided an opportunity to reaffirm the historical ties and friendship shared by the two countries and called for continued cooperation to pass this legacy on to future generations.
In a congratulatory message, an Ethiopian Journalist Dr. Ayele Addis Ambelu, News Director of Africa News Channel stated, “The sacrifice of the Kagnew Battalion remains an example of international solidarity in defense of freedom and human dignity. The most meaningful way to honor veterans is to build a future in which such sacrifices are no longer required, while promoting peace through dialogue and cooperation.”
To honor the 122 Ethiopian soldiers who were killed during the Korean War, 122 citizens and religious leaders from the Gwangju and Jeonnam region voluntarily participated in a blood donation campaign. Their donation certificates were presented to the Ethiopian ambassador as a gesture symbolizing remembrance and life sharing.
The organizations involved in the event plan to continue citizen-centered initiatives connecting generations and cultures. Through its Ethiopian branch, HWPL intends to expand peace education programs and develop locally tailored activities promoting harmony among diverse ethnic communities and youth engagement in peacebuilding. The initiative aims to transform the historical bond formed during the Korean War into practical peace efforts within Ethiopian communities.
