Local restaurant hosts annual dinner for Korean war veterans

Every year in November, the Seoul Korean restaurant on 20th street hosts a dinner for veterans of the Korean War.

The restaurant’s general manager Kyeong Hun Kim said the tradition was started in 2012 by his boss as a way to show respect to the Canadian veterans.

“He always thinks about how can I remember Canadian veterans who fight because of us,” said Kim.

“This is his main purpose, to giving thanks for who fought for us.”

Kim also says they wanted this to be a reminder to younger generations of those who fought for the country.

“He would like to send this message to the next generation to remember we are not alone, someone has fought for us and you should remember,” he said.

“He would like to talk about this story for the next generations and he tried to give thanks for those who fought for us. ”

Last year, the restaurant even paid for a couple of veterans and their wives to go to Korea for a week so they could see how much the country has changed.

Jim McKinny was one of the veterans who got to go on the trip and said it was a great experience.

“Through the restaurant and through the Presbyterian church of Seoul we were given an all expense paid trip to Korea for six days and they treated us like royalty,” he said.

“It was fantastic. Every time we got off the bus there was a line up of people or children waving flags. It was quite a humbling experience, I’ll never forget it.”

Kim said he isn’t sure exactly when the dinner will take place this year. They contacted the veterans and are waiting to hear what day works best for them.

Usually about 8 veterans and their spouses come for dinner at the restaurant.