Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and South Korean officials inaugurated an Indian war memorial near Seoul
May 20, 2026: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and South Korean Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul on Thursday inaugurated an Indian war memorial at Imjingak Park near Seoul as part of events marking the 75th anniversary of the Korean War. The memorial honours the contribution of Indian soldiers, particularly the 60 Para Field Ambulance and the Custodian Force of India, who played key humanitarian and peacekeeping roles during and after the conflict.
The 60 Para Field Ambulance unit, led by Lieutenant Colonel AG Rangaraj, Maha Vir Chakra, earned international recognition for treating over 2,22,000 wounded soldiers and civilians under difficult wartime conditions. The unit deployed 627 Indian Army personnel and participated in airborne operations during the Korean War. Rajnath Singh said the memorial stands as a tribute to the courage, sacrifice and humanitarian service of Indian soldiers and reflects the enduring friendship between India and South Korea.
After the war ended with the 1953 armistice agreement, India also contributed through the 5,500-member Custodian Force of India under the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission chaired by Lieutenant General KS Thimayya. The force was responsible for handling and repatriating prisoners of war. The memorial has been built at the site where “Hind Nagar” was established in 1954 to house nearly 22,000 prisoners before repatriation. During Singh’s visit, India and South Korea also signed agreements to expand cooperation in defence, cybersecurity, military training and UN peacekeeping operations.