27/07/2026
Lest we forget
Today is Korean Veterans Day.
On this day in 1953 the Armistice ending fighting in the Korean War came into effect.
Following the invasion of South Korea by North Korea on 25 June 1950 Australia, and 15 other members of the United Nations, took part in direct military action in support of the South.
When the United Nations forces arrived on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea was on the verge of victory, having pushed the South back to a very small section of land in the very southeast of the country.
The UN alliance managed to push the North Korean army back almost to the northern border with China before Chinese forces entered the war and began to push the front lines back south.
After three years of bitter fighting the war ended in stalemate. The north and south were just as divided as it had been when the war began and remain to this day.
Over 17,000 Australians served in the Army, Air Force and Navy during the course of the war. In total Australia suffered 1586 casualties in the course of the war including 340 killed, 1216 wounded and 30 captured and taken as prisoners of war
The people of Korea suffered terrible casualties from the war. It is believed 700,000 South Koreans and 900,000 North Koreans were killed during the fighting.
Today we remember the sacrifice of the Australian servicepeople who served in the Korean War, and honour their service.
Lest we forget.
