Korean war memorial finds support locally and abroad

Fifty years ago, a cease-fire ended the Korean War. More than 29,000 Americans died in the war, including about 60 KU alumni, students and faculty.

Recently, efforts to build a campus memorial have been reborn thanks to a $30,000 gift from a Korean-American businessman, a combined $15,000 from five Korean businesses and $10,000 from KU alumni in Korea.

The memorial, which could cost up to $300,000, will honor those who died in the Korean War and will include a tablet describing the war. The memorial will be built on the hill above Potter Lake along KU’s Memorial Drive, west of the Memorial Campanile.

KU’s existing war memorials include the Kansas Memorial Union and Memorial Stadium for World War I, the campanile for World War II and the Vietnam Memorial.
The $30,000 gift was from Yong L. Kim, who came to the Kansas City area as a student from the Republic of Korea in 1962. Kim was 12 years old in 1950 when military forces from the People’s Republic of Korea, or North Korea, crossed the border into the Republic of Korea. He said he feels an obligation to honor the U.S. soldiers killed in the war.

“There are other memorials at KU, but there isn’t yet one for Korea,” he said. “I feel really obligated to do something because as a Korean, I appreciate those who defended Korea against communism.”

Kim is the founder and chairman of QMD International in Kansas City, Mo., an international trading company and manufacturer of steel components for household goods manufacturers. He also is chairman of Alterna-Med.com, an alternative health Web site. He and his wife, June, live in Leawood. They have three children, Jay, biology ‘89 and pharmacy ‘90, Jane and Kay.

While on a trip to Seoul last month, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor David Shulenburger received $15,000 from representatives of five South Korean corporations — Korea National Housing Corp.; Korea Land Corp.; Myung Sun Architects & Engineers; Eawes; and Agabang Co. Ltd. — with leaders who are affiliated with the university, either as graduates, former exchange students or Fulbright scholars.

The provost also met with members of the KU Korean Association, an alumni chapter in Seoul, and received $10,000 for the memorial.

Although a Korean War memorial has been discussed by university officials for several years, private financial support never has been adequate to establish one, said Jeff Weinberg, special assistant to the chancellor.

The university has raised more than $60,000 for the Korean War memorial. KU Endowment and university officials will continue to raise money for the project. For more information about supporting the memorial, please contact Jerome Davies, vice president for development at KU Endowment, 832-7460.

For more information about the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, visit korea50.army.mil/welcome.shtml.