Titled "Stand in the Bootprints of Heroes," the project was jointly initiated by the British Korean War Memorial Committee (BKWMC), a Seoul-based nonprofit organization of British expatriates, and the city of Paju - a northern border town with the North near the demilitarized zone where the Battle of the Imjin River took place in April 1951.
As part of the project, about a dozen QR-coded signs were installed along the former battlefield, each linked to short videos explaining key moments of the battle.
Separately, about 19 video clips are also available online, narrated in English with Korean subtitles, accompanied by old photos, maps, and paintings.
The battle during the war (1950 - 1953) was a crucial engagement in which British and other United Nations forces fought against Chinese forces. With more than 1,000 British casualties, it was the U.K.'s bloodiest land battle since World War II. Beyond its scale, the battle is remembered as a turning point that delayed the Chinese advance and gave UN forces critical time to regroup. It also became a symbol of international solidarity in a conflict often referred to as "the forgotten war."
British Ambassador to Seoul Colin Crooks stressed the importance of preserving the legacy of British soldiers who made the long journey to a distant Asian country to provide assistance.
"As the number of living war veterans declines, preserving their legacy becomes ever more urgent. That's why we're proud of this project," he said. Highlighting the grassroots support behind the project, Crooks added, "This wasn't initiated by government-level agencies or embassies, but by those who want to keep these stories alive in an accessible, engaging, and lasting way."
Andrew Salmon, the committee's co-chair and narrator of the video clips, hailed the project as a meaningful effort to shed light on a battle that remains little known. "Unlike many great and tragic last stands, the battle hasn't been well memorialized in the arts," he said. "I hope Paju residents will watch the videos and learn about the powerful events that unfolded on their quiet hillsides and roadside junctions, even next to bus stops. And I especially hope we inspire British and Korean creators," he added.
The committee installed commemorative plaques in both English and Korean last year at Gloster Hill Memorial Park, a memorial in Paju dedicated to the British Gloster Battalion, and plans to come up with additional projects to raise awareness of Britain's role in the war.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
View more comments