The 75th anniversary of the Korean War was marked by the inauguration of the Indian War memorial at Imjingak Park near Seoul by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Republic of Korea’s Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul on Thursday (May 21).
The memorial has been built to honour Indian Army’s 60 Para Field Ambulance and the Custodian Force of India (CFI), whose personnel played a significant humanitarian and peacekeeping role during and after the Korean War. The two ministers laid wreaths at the memorial and paid tribute to the Indian soldiers whose courage and humanitarian service continue to be remembered in South Korea.
Addressing the ceremony, Rajnath Singh highlighted India’s commitment to peace on the Korean Peninsula. He said the sacrifices and service of Indian troops laid a strong foundation for the India–Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership and continue to strengthen ties between the people of the two nations.
The Defence Minister also thanked the South Korean government and its Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs for supporting the establishment of the memorial. In response, Kwon Oh-eul expressed deep appreciation for India’s role during the Korean War and acknowledged the enduring friendship forged through the sacrifices of Indian troops.
According to the Defence of Ministry, both countries signed an MoU to promote cooperation in honouring Korean War veterans and enhancing exchanges between them. A memoir dedicated to the sacrifices of Indian soldiers during the war was also released.
The 60 para field ambulance unit popularly known as “Maroon Angels”, commanded by Lt. Col (Dr) AG Rangaraj, earned global recognition for providing medical aid to thousands of wounded soldiers and civilians under difficult battlefield conditions.
India also played a key diplomatic and humanitarian role after the war through the Custodian Force of India under the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC), chaired by Lt Gen KS Thimayya. The commission was tasked with overseeing the repatriation and custody of prisoners of war after the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement.
The Indian War Memorial has been constructed at the same site where the Custodian Force of India had established “Hind Nagar” in 1954, which housed nearly 22,000 prisoners of war before their repatriation, the Ministry of Defence said.
The ceremony was attended by senior military officials, veterans, diplomats and distinguished guests from both countries. Ms Kalpana Prasad, niece of Lt Col Rangaraj, was also present at the event. South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has dedicated the current month in honour of Colonel Rangaraj.
The inauguration ceremony marked the conclusion of Rajnath Singh’s four-day visit to Vietnam and South Korea, aimed at deepening defence and strategic cooperation with key Indo-Pacific partners.