From November 4 to December 4, 2025, the special exhibition “Latvians in the Korean War” will be on display at the Honam Patriots Memorial Hall in Suncheon, Jeolla Province.
The exhibition was first presented at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul, and later shown at the Dongduncheon Freedom Protection Peace Museum. Suncheon now marks the third stop of its journey across the Republic of Korea.
The exhibition highlights the stories of twelve young and courageous Latvian men who served alongside U.S. forces during the Korean War. To date, historians have identified sixteen Latvian soldiers who took part in the war, four of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. Although the exact number of Latvian participants deserves further research, their dedication was rooted in a profound belief in world peace, democracy, and a brighter future—values that continue to unite Latvia and the Republic of Korea today.
The exhibition also reflects the complex and intertwined histories of Latvia and the Republic of Korea. It was not by choice that Latvians found themselves far from home in the 1950s. At the time, while Korea fought for its freedom, Latvia was under Soviet occupation. In a period when Latvian soldiers could not defend their own homeland, they instead chose to fight for the ideals of freedom and democracy by joining the U.S. forces and serving in a war far away from home.
As a historical testimony to international solidarity during the Korean War, this exhibition serves as a reminder that—just as seventy years ago—unity in defending freedom and a rules-based international order remains crucial today. It calls upon us to honor the memory of those who sacrificed their lives and to reaffirm our collective commitment to global cooperation and peace.
The exhibition has been prepared by the Latvian War Museum in cooperation with the Embassy of Latvia in the Republic of Korea, with support from the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Latvia in the Republic of Korea.
Media Contact:
Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in the Republic of Korea
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