The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs held a policy meeting on Tuesday at the Air Force Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, bringing together Minister Kwon Oh-eul and the central chairpersons of 14 veterans and patriots organizations.
The participating organizations included the Heritage of Korean Independence, the Korean Disabled Veterans Association, the Korean War Bereaved Families Association, the Korean War Widows Association, the Korea Military Merit Recipients Association, the 4·19 Revolution Victims Bereaved Families Association, the 4·19 Revolution Meritorious Persons Association, the Korea Special Missions Veterans Association, the Agent Orange Veterans Association, the Korea Veterans Association of the Korean War, the Vietnam War Veterans Association, the 5·18 Democratization Movement Injured Persons Association, the 5·18 Democratization Movement Meritorious Persons Association, and the Korea Veterans Association.
At the meeting, the ministry's director for veterans organization cooperation first presented major achievements, including the expansion of the compensation scope for bereaved families of independence patriots and the establishment of a livelihood support payment for spouses of war veterans. Minister Kwon and the heads of the veterans organizations then discussed the direction these organizations should pursue going forward.
Attendees shared views on key issues, including how veterans organizations can earn trust and respect from the public through democratic and transparent operations, as well as how to spread a culture of honoring patriots and veterans together with the public.
"I will work to substantially improve the welfare and honor of patriot and veteran families based on close communication with veterans organizations and the opinions raised at this meeting," Kwon said.
