Hanwha Group invites US Korean War veterans to defense production sites

Hanwha Group said Monday it has hosted a visit by U.S. veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War to its defense system production plants in Korea as part of a government program to recognize their service and sacrifice.

According to Hanwha, the veterans visited the production facilities of Hanwha in South Gyeongsang Province for three days from Thursday. The program was arranged in cooperation with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

The group of 85 participants included Lois Rae Guin, a 98-year-old former U.S. Navy nurse who served on the hospital ship the USS Haven, and Robert Max Martinez, a 94-year-old former U.S. Army sergeant, along with U.S. Forces Korea service members and their families.

At Hanwha Aerospace’s Changwon plant, they observed demonstrations of the company’s various weapons systems. They also visited the Geoje shipyard of Hanwha Ocean Co. to observe naval vessel construction.

Many expressed amazement at Korea’s rise as a global defense power, according to the group.

“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Korean War. As a leading defense company, Hanwha will continue to honor the heroes of the war and uphold the enduring values of the Korea-U.S. alliance,” Moon Ji-hoon, executive vice president of Hanwha Aerospace, said.