India Opens War Memorial in South Korea to Honour Korean War Heroes

May 22, 2026

Overview

On 21 May 2026, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and South Korean Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul inaugurated the Indian War Memorial at Imjingak Park near Seoul. The memorial marks the 75th anniversary of the Korean War. It honours the service of the 60 Para Field Ambulance and the Custodian Force of India. This is a proud moment for India’s military history.

Latest News: Memorial Inaugurated on May 21

A new chapter in India-South Korea friendship was written on 21 May 2026. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and South Korean Minister Kwon Oh-eul came together. They inaugurated the Indian War Memorial at Imjingak Park. This park is located near Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The memorial was built to mark the 75th anniversary of the Korean War. It honours the brave Indian soldiers who served during that war. The event was part of Rajnath Singh’s four-day visit to Vietnam and South Korea.

Where Is Imjingak Park?

Imjingak Park is a well-known memorial site in South Korea. It is situated near the border with North Korea, close to Seoul. The park has many monuments and tributes to those who fought in the Korean War. This place has a special link with India. In September 1954, the site hosted a place called Hind Nagar. About 22,000 prisoners of war (POWs) lived there before they were sent back to their homes. Now, this park also has the Indian War Memorial.

What Does the Memorial Honour?

The memorial honours two Indian units:

60 Para Field Ambulance – A medical unit of the Indian Army
Custodian Force of India – A military force that helped manage POWs after the war

Both units served during the Korean War period of 1950 to 1953. India was not a fighting nation in that war. But India sent medical and peacekeeping support. This support saved many lives.

The Brave 60 Para Field Ambulance

The 60 Para Field Ambulance was a special medical unit. It was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel AG Rangaraj. He was a very brave officer. For his courage, he received the Maha Vir Chakra, which is India’s second-highest wartime gallantry award. The unit had 627 soldiers. These soldiers were paratroopers trained to jump into dangerous areas. They treated more than 222,000 patients during the war. That is a huge number. The soldiers worked day and night in very hard conditions. They did not carry weapons. They carried medicines and stretchers. The local people loved them. They gave the unit a beautiful nickname – “Maroon Angels.” Maroon was the colour of their berets. Angels because they saved lives.

The Custodian Force of India

After the fighting stopped in 1953, there was still work to do. Thousands of prisoners of war had to be sent back to their homes. India sent the Custodian Force of India to help. This force managed the POWs and made sure they were treated fairly. India’s role as a neutral country was respected by both sides. The Custodian Force worked at places like Hind Nagar in Imjingak Park. About 22,000 POWs were housed there before repatriation.