“Elder, stop smiling! Look here, here! Clench your fists!”
Yesterday (6th) morning, conference room on the 4th floor of the Jeju Regional Headquarters of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation in Samdoil-dong, Jeju-si. The spacious space was filled with about 30 seniors dressed in neat white uniforms and volunteers wearing green vests.
The clothes worn by the elderly are called ‘hero uniforms.’ To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Armistice this year, this is a white formal attire newly issued by the government to honor veterans of the Korean War.
The reason why veterans, men and women over ninety years old, gathered in one place in the morning wearing ‘hero uniforms’ is for a special photo shoot.
■ Jeju Agricultural Cooperative, ‘Hero in Uniform’ photo shoot… Professor Jong-Hoon Yang’s ‘talent donation’
In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Armistice, the Jeju Agricultural Cooperative is operating a daily ‘Hero Photo’ photo studio targeting veterans of the Korean War in Jeju Island.
We plan to hold an event within this year to photograph war veterans wearing the ‘Hero’s Uniform’ issued by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, carefully frame them, and deliver them. Purchase expenses such as picture frames are paid from the ‘Happiness Sharing Fund’ that Nonghyup executives and employees save every month.
The filming of the ‘Hero Photo’ began last July, and until the second filming yesterday, about 60 veterans wore ‘Hero’s Uniform’ and looked dignified in front of the Taegeukgi.
An official from Jeju Agricultural Cooperative said, “We plan to take pictures of about 200 people by this year.” He added, “The number of veterans of the Korean War currently alive in Jeju is estimated to be about 700, but most of them are over 90 years old and are able to move around.” “We made a filming plan centered around those people,” he explained.
On this day, Jeju Agricultural Cooperative employees also rolled up their sleeves as daily ‘makeup artists’ and photo shoot assistants. Employees wearing green vests attached Nonghyup’s own Taegeuk logo badges to their uniforms and did makeup on the faces of veterans to make their photos look brighter.
Volunteers are also responsible for providing companionship while waiting for their turn to take photos, setting up scaffolding according to the different heights of veterans, and holding reflectors.
It took about 4 hours to take pictures of 30 ‘uniform heroes’. Veterans waiting for their turn to be filmed sat together around the table in groups of twos and threes, asked each other how they were doing, and chatted without a moment of boredom.
■ Even an old soldier with a cane says in front of the camera, “Marines who catch ghosts!”
Among the attendees that day, there was a veteran soldier who took a difficult step while supporting his body with a cane, but when taking pictures, he put down his cane, straightened his back, and smiled brightly in front of the camera lens.
From clenching both fists to saluting and standing at attention. Wearing neat attire and honorable medals, each person appeared to be seriously engaged in taking pictures.
When the photographer made the elderly man, who seemed nervous and stiff in front of the camera, smile by shouting, “Marines to catch ghosts!”, the veteran also shouted in a loud voice, “Marines to catch ghosts!” The scene in which the participants and volunteers responded burst into laughter.
■ The four female Marines who volunteered to go to the battlefield were ‘out in full glory’ wearing ‘heroic uniforms’.
Among the 30 veteran soldiers with gray hair that day, there were three who stood out in particular. Jeju area female Korean War veterans Go Sun-deok, president of the 4th Class Female Marine Comrades Association, and Hyun Ae-sun and Hyun Hee-seon.
When the Korean War broke out, about 3,000 young people from Jeju voluntarily enlisted in the Marine Corps, left their hometown, and headed to the battlefield amid a hail of bullets. Among them, there were 126 women, including teachers and second and third grade middle school students.
Chairman Goh Sun-deok (88) volunteered to join the Marine Corps when he was 17. It was in August 1950. He said, “It feels really good to be asked to take a picture wearing a uniform like this.” He recalled the time, saying, “In the old days of Barley Hill, we were people who enlisted in the Marine Corps and participated in the war in an era when people did not even recognize us as ‘chicks.’”
Ms. Hyun Hee-seon (89), who was a second grader at Seongsan Middle School at the time of the Korean War, said, “It was right after the Jeju April 3 Incident, so the people of Jeju went to the battlefield more willingly (because they were labeled as ‘communists’). Each person volunteered to enlist to protect the country. “Not only the female teachers at the time, but even second-year female middle school students came forward,” he said. Mrs. Hyun, who said she had four sons, smiled and said, “Her 토토사이트youngest son is over 50 and the only one is a junior in the Marine Corps.”
When asked if she would join the Marine Corps again if there was another war, Hyeon Ae-sun (90)’s eyes immediately turned dark. She said, “Of course I have to go protect my country! Once a Mari
■ “Thank you for remembering the sacrifice and dedication to protect the Republic of Korea”
Before receiving white robes from the government this year, most veterans of the Korean War attended various events wearing shabby vests. Even these were mostly purchased with private money. This is why the emotions of veterans participating in the ‘Hero Photo’ shoot are all the more special.
Song Chi-seon (92), head of the Jeju branch of the Korea Korean War Veterans Association, said, “I feel the best. I am so happy and grateful for the interest,” and added, “I have lived with pride that I saved the Republic of Korea. I am just an ‘old man’ and an ‘old soldier.’ He continued to express his gratitude by saying, “I am even more grateful that they treated me as a ‘hero of patriotism’ rather than as a hero.”
He continued, “Even if war breaks out again today, of course I will participate, but war is a tragedy that should never happen again.” He added, “I hope that all the people in the Republic of Korea, the freedom we have protected, will live happily and comfortably. Youth who have never experienced war can also participate in the UN. “I hope that everyone around the world, including the military, knows and appreciates the fact that we fought together for the Republic of Korea,” he added.
ne, always a Marine!” The gold Marine Corps mark was clearly visible on Mr. Hyun’s right chest.
Jeju Agricultural Cooperative General Manager Yoon Jae-chun said, “I am deeply grateful to each and every one of the patriotic heroes who sacrificed and dedicated themselves for the country.” He added, “Through the ‘Heroes in Uniform’ sharing project to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Armistice, we will raise the pride of those who have served the country. “We will work to spread the culture of respecting and honoring these people throughout the community,” he said.
Yang Jong-hoon, a professor in the Department of Digital Imaging at Sangmyung University Graduate School, was the special photographer on this day and devoted himself to taking pictures, even skipping meals.
Professor Yang, who is participating in the second hero photo shoot this month as a ‘talent donation’ following last July, is a documentary photographer from Jeju. He said, “It’s rather an honor” to film for hours without receiving any compensation.
“This photoshoot is not free. By participating in the Korean War, you have already paid for all the photos.”