In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Vietnam War, South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) announced on June 3rd that it plans to distribute newly manufactured uniforms to all 175,000 surviving Vietnam War veterans. The distribution will begin on June 20th and continue until the end of September.
An MPVA official stated, “The uniform consists of a khaki jacket, navy pants, and a necktie. Applications can be made through our call center (1899-1459), email (uniform24@naver.com), online, or by mail.” He added, “Based on the applicant’s birth month, applications will be accepted on designated days until June 7th. After June 10th, there will be no restrictions on when you can apply.”
The uniforms are expected to be delivered in July. The MPVA aims to distribute them to all Vietnam War veterans by the end of the year.
Previously, the MPVA spent KRW 4.3 billion ($3.8 million) on the Uniformed Heroes project, providing new uniforms to Korean War veterans. Last year, 36,000 new uniforms were distributed. Honggeon Kang (Aged 94), a Korean War veteran currently residing in the U.S., shared his heartfelt sentiment: “I was truly moved to receive the uniform. I’ve told my family to bury me in it when I die.”The Uniformed Heroes project was initiated to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice. It involves replacing Korean War veterans’ existing summer group uniforms (safety vests) with new ones. This effort aims to cultivate a culture of respect for uniformed public servants.