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November 11, 2025 – One-Minute Tribute Facing ‘Busan’ at 11 a.m.

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that at 10:50 a.m. on November 11, the Turn Toward Busan, 19th International Memorial Day for UN Veterans ceremony will take place at the UN Memorial Cemetery, accompanied by a simultaneous global moment of silence and remembrance toward Busan.

Event Overview
• Date and Time: November 11, 2025 (Mon) 10:50–11:30 a.m. (40 minutes)
• Venue: UN Memorial Cemetery (Symbolic Area)
• Participants: Approximately 800 people, including UN veterans and their descendants, diplomatic envoys, Korean War veterans, and key government officials
• Hosted by: Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs

The International Memorial Day for UN Veterans event, held at 11 a.m. on November 11, symbolizes a global tribute in which people around the world turn toward Busan for one minute to remember and honor the sacrifices and contributions of 1.98 million veterans from 22 UN member countries who defended the Republic of Korea’s freedom and democracy during the Korean War.

The ceremony is a solemn occasion where the entire world, including the Republic of Korea, pays tribute at 11 a.m. on November 11 toward Busan—the only city in the world that houses the UN Memorial Cemetery, where UN veterans from 22 nations who fought and sacrificed for Korea’s freedom and peace are laid to rest.

This memorial event began in 2007 upon the proposal of Canadian veteran Vincent Courtenay, and in 2020 it was officially designated as a national memorial day. Since then, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has hosted the ceremony annually.

The ceremony will proceed in the following order:
▲ Hoisting of the UN member nations’ flags ▲ One-minute silent tribute “facing Busan” ▲ Laying of wreaths ▲ Remarks by representatives of the participating countries ▲ Memorial performances ▲ Memorial address ▲ Thematic video ▲ Dedication performance.

This year’s event will be attended by approximately 800 participants, including visiting UN veterans and their descendants, diplomatic representatives, Korean War veterans, government and military officials, citizens, and students. The ceremonial flag-raising will be conducted by the Ministry of National Defense Honor Guard and 24 students from Pukyong National University, each raising the flag of a UN member country.

A special memorial performance will feature Maria Elizabeth Ries, a singer known from the TV program Miss Trot, whose grandfather and great-uncle both served as UN veterans. She will perform the hymn Amazing Grace, adding to the event’s meaning and solemnity.

Meanwhile, a city official announced that at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, a memorial siren will sound across Busan, accompanied by a 21-gun salute. Citizens are asked not to be startled and to participate in the one-minute silent tribute.

Mayor Park Heong-joon said,
“I urge citizens to join the moment of remembrance at 11 a.m. on November 11, facing Busan—the home of the world’s only UN Memorial Cemetery. Busan will never forget the value of freedom and peace safeguarded by the UN member states and their veterans, and as a city symbolizing world peace, it will continue to uphold their noble spirit.”