Singer Kim plans to build memorial for child soldiers

Kim Jang-hoon, a singer and general director of a peace concert, said all the performers of the event would donate appearance fees to build a memorial for child soldiers during the Korean War.

“While I was living abroad, I felt that foreigners were regarding the Republic of Korea as a dangerous nation due to relations with North Korea,” said Kim, the director of “The Gyeonggi Province Demilitarized Zone World Peace Concert” at a press conference Wednesday in Seoul. 

“I prepared this event to let the world know that the Republic of Korea is a peaceful and safe country.”

The 47-year-old veteran signer said he planed to cast light on “child soldiers” through the concert marking the 60th anniversary the armistice agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War.

He added that the child soldiers were neglected for years even though they had fought in the war at the young ages of 14-17. “I want to install a memorial for child soldiers with the performers’ donations.”

The free concert will be held on Aug. 3 in Pyeonghoa-Nuri Park near Imjingak and aired via YouTube and local broadcaster SBS.

A wide range of celebrities from middle-aged film actors including Ahn Sung-ki and Choi Min-soo to girl groups such as f(x) and Girl’s Day and boy band Beast will appear on the show.

By Park Han-na 
(hnpark@heraldcorp.com)