▲ President Lee Jae Myung (R) holds the hand of a Philippine veteran who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War during his visit to the Korean War Memorial Pylon in Manila on March 4, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ President Lee Jae Myung (R) lays a wreath at the Korean War Memorial Pylon in Manila on March 4, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee-Philippines-Korean War memorial

Lee pays tribute at Korean War memorial in Manila

By Kim Eun-jung

MANILA, March 4 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday paid tribute at the Korean War Memorial Pylon in Manila, honoring Philippine veterans who fought for South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War.

Lee laid a wreath at the memorial and met with surviving veterans and descendants of fallen soldiers at the Heroes' Cemetery in Manila on the second day of his state visit to the Philippines.

During the visit, Lee knelt on one knee to meet a veteran in a wheelchair at eye level and held his hands, while inviting the veterans and their families to visit South Korea.

The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian nation to establish diplomatic relations with South Korea and sent the first and largest contingent of 7,420 troops to support Seoul during the Korean War in 1950, with 112 soldiers killed in action and 299 wounded.

On the occasion of Lee's visit, the two nations also signed a memorandum of understanding to promote exchanges between Philippine veterans and their descendants and expand related support.

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