3.10 9 2015 - Korean Memorial (1)

From Left to Right: Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Chairman, House Democratic Caucus; Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY), Korean War Veteran and Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Congressional Caucus on Korea Representative Ralph Abraham, M.D. (R-LA, Chairman, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee; Colonel William E. Weber, Chairman of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation; Won-Kyong Kim, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics America; and, Megan Pollock, Director, Strategic Communications, Samsung Electronics America.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 12, 2015 – Today Samsung Electronics announced the donation of $1,000,000 to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation’s Maintenance Fund (KWVMF). The announcement comes one month before the United States’ observance of Veterans Day, when the nation remembers the service and sacrifice of its approximately 23 million living veterans.

Samsung Electronics’ donation will ensure the continued upkeep and care of the Korean Memorial grounds, including the 19 sculptures representing members of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Memorial Wall filled with over 2,500 etched photos depicting personnel and scenes of the war, and the Pool of Remembrance dedicated to those killed, wounded or missing in action.

“Over sixty years ago, millions of U.S. service members came to South Korea’s aid during the Korean War. More than one hundred thousand Americans were wounded, and over 36,000 gave their lives in defense of freedom. Samsung remembers their sacrifice,” said Won-Kyong Kim, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics America. “Samsung is proud to support the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation’s Maintenance Fund so the millions visiting Washington, D.C. every year also remember their defense of freedom.”

The relationship between Samsung and the United States was born more than six decades ago when American forces helped South Korea maintain its independence. After the Korean War, the United States and South Korea were dedicated to re-building the country. At the time, Samsung was a rapidly growing company focused on the re-development and industrialization of Korea. Since the war, the deep alliance and strong bilateral cooperation between the United States and South Korea across political, economic, social and cultural arenas has enabled an environment for Samsung’s technological innovations and industry leadership to flourish on a global level.

“The Korean War Memorial is one of the most inspiring war memorials in our Nation’s Capital. This memorial serves to honor the veterans and those who made the supreme sacrifice in the war, and with the generous donation from Samsung we can be assured it will stand as a tribute and remain inspiring for decades to come,” said Colonel William E. Weber, Chairman of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation.

Joined by Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Chairman, House Democratic Caucus, and Representative Ralph Abraham, M.D. (R-LA), Chairman, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, in a ceremony announcing the donation last week on Capitol Hill, Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY), Korean War Veteran and Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Congressional Caucus on Korea, expressed tremendous gratitude as one of the few Korean War veterans currently serving in Congress. “We know that the Korean people, as exemplified through Samsung, are saying: ‘We will not forget the sacrifice you made to allow us to play such an important role in the community and economics of the world.’”

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) also commented, “Samsung and the appreciation of the Korean people for the United States’ role in the Korean War is a message for humankind, the world and for all who have endured any sacrifice.” Congressman Rangel continued, “Samsung didn’t have to do this – but to those of us who still feel that Americans should at least know about those who served and sacrificed their lives in the Korean War, this kind gesture by a corporation is so well, and so emotionally, received.”

This year Samsung Electronics America will celebrate its National Day of Service on Friday, October 16. Employees from around the region will volunteer alongside veterans and others in cleaning the Korean War Veterans Memorial site in preparation for the 2015 observance of Veterans Day on November 11.

Samsung Electronics America, with its growing footprint of 17,000 employees in the U.S., supports veterans and military family initiatives as a major part of its social responsibility and citizenship efforts. In 1996, Samsung endowed the American Legion with a $5 million scholarship fund in honor of those who came to Korea’s aid during its struggle against communist forces. Since the inception of the scholarship program, more than $5.49 million in college scholarships has been awarded to nearly 1,900 students who are direct descendants of U.S. war veterans. In 2013, the American Legion recognized Samsung’s years of dedication to this cause with the prestigious Patriot Award. These efforts, among others, are rooted in the company’s recognition of the importance of the U.S. military role in South Korea’s history.

To learn more about the KWVMF visit here: http://www.koreanwarvetsmemorial.org/

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. We are also leading in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Smart Home and Digital Health initiatives. We employ 319,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of US $196 billion. To discover more, please visit our official website at www.samsung.com and our official blog at global.samsungtomorrow.com.

About Samsung Electronics North America

Samsung Electronics North America (NAHQ), based in Ridgefield Park, NJ, is an arm of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The company markets a broad range of award-winning consumer electronics, information systems, and home appliance products, as well as oversees all of Samsung’s North American brand management including Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. As a result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, Samsung is one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com. You can also Fan Samsung on www.facebook.com/SamsungUSA or follow Samsung via Twitter @SamsungTweets.