Dutch veteran of Korean War to be buried in S. Korea

SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- The remains of a Dutch veteran of the Korean War will arrive in South Korea next week for burial at a United Nations cemetery in Busan, a southern port city, the government here said Friday.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said that the remains of the late Wilhelm Cornelis de Buijzer will arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Monday ahead of burial at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan the following day.

Buijzer, who died in the Netherlands in October last year, had expressed his wish to be buried on South Korean soil before his death, the ministry said.

The South Korean government will hold a ceremony marking the return of the Dutch veteran at the Incheon airport at 1 p.m. Monday and a separate burial ceremony in Busan, it noted.

The ceremonies in Incheon and Busan will be attended by South Korean Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Pi Woo-jin, the Netherlands' ambassador to Seoul and Dutch veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Buijzer's remains will be moved to Busan's UN Memorial Cemetery Tuesday after spending one night at the Seoul National Cemetery.

The head of an association of Korean War veterans in the Netherlands and two association members are traveling to South Korea carrying Buijzer's remains.

Buijzer arrived in South Korea in February 1953 after deciding to volunteer for the war in July 1952.

One day before the armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, he was seriously wounded in a battle in the so-called "Iron Triangle" and transferred unconscious to Japan. In October of the same year, he was moved to the Netherlands for further medical treatment.

He was awarded medals of honor from the United Nations and the Dutch government for his bravery during the Korean War.

ycm@yna.co.kr
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