A group of 85 soldiers from Luxembourg volunteered to fight in the Korean war (1950-1953) as part of a UN mission. Two soldiers died in the conflict, and it marked the last time that combat troops were deployed to a foreign country.

An in Diekirch until March 2023 tells the story of this unit of volunteers.

Pictures of the soldiers were also on display at a reception on Saturday evening, when the embassy of the Republic of Korea formally celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations with Luxembourg.

Ambassador Soon Gu Yoon during his welcoming remarks said his country would never forget the courage of these 85 young men who fought for the freedom of South Korea. The relationship has grown since then, with numerous South Korean businesses now represented in Luxembourg and vice versa. The most recent to set up is .

To further strengthen the economic ties between both countries, Luxembourg will embark on an economic mission to the Republic of Korea later this year, economy minister Franz Fayot (LSAP) said in his remarks.

During the reception, guests enjoyed Korean foods, such as kimchi and fried chicken. They were also able to try on the hanbok traditional Korean dress. Later in the evening, dancer Ena Han performed several pieces at the Celo cultural centre in Hesperange.

She was joined by Seongnyeo Hong, who performed live calligraphy, sketching a tree with blue and red flowers--colours reminiscent of the flags of both countries--on stage. Guests were also introduced to Korea’s two main cities--Seoul and Busan--in short video messages.