In the mid-1990s, the Canadian government added the dates of the Korean War to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa. Local cenotaphs in Canadian towns and cities added the names of Korean War veterans to their monuments (Brewster, 2020).
The veterans had to lobby for themselves in order to achieve some recognition and benefits for their sacrifice. In 1992, they were awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for their service, and in 2007, they were given pensions (TVOntario, 2024). Korean War veterans in Canada paid for and raised funds to create their own Wall of Remembrance in a Brampton cemetery in 1996 (Wilkes, 2010; Johnson and Bowen, 2023). In recent years, more attention has been focused on Korean War veterans due to the efforts of the South Korean government, South Koreans who have immigrated to Canada, and veterans’ families (Johnson and Bowen, 2023).
1. Canada Korea Medal: established 1951 and distributed to those who served in Korea
2. Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea: criteria and medal established in 1991
3. Canadian Peacekeeping Medal: established 1997 and first awarded in 2000
4. UN Korea Medal: given to those who served directly under UN command
5. Canada 125 Medal
Takao Irizawa Collection. 2018.32.1.1.3
The government of South Korea showed their appreciation to the veterans before Canada did. South Korea organizes trips for war veterans to revisit the country and observe the progress of rebuilding and renewal. It organizes commemorative ceremonies for veterans and summer programs enabling the grandchildren of veterans to visit Korea (Johnson and Bowen, 2023).
Canada now has five memorials dedicated to Korean war veterans, in Brampton, Niagara Falls, Winnipeg, Langley, and Airdrie (Johnson and Bowen, 2023).
