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There are photographers who travel around the world to visit UN veterans of the Korean War, take photos, make frames, and deliver them for free.

Last month, the government gave this artist a plaque of appreciation.

Hyo-jae Hyun, known as the photographer Ramie, is here.




Q. Awarded a plaque of appreciation from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs...

What do you think?



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: In the end, I need the help of the country to visit and meet more people.

But I think with the will to do it now.

I think more people will be able to join the National Veterans Affairs Office.]




Q. How did you take pictures of soldiers and veterans?



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: I started with soldiers.

By the way, I also had no good idea about the soldiers and the military because I left the army in Korea, but I did a video interview with the 6th Army Division in 2014 when making a promotional video.

Soldiers.

I interviewed 80 people, and among them, one of them, Wonsa Sung Woo-kyung, who had been in the military for 28 years, had been in GOP for 3 years during 28 years of military service.

Those people make sacrifices not only with their own lives but with their families to protect their beliefs, but people like me are not the ones to be treated that way.

I was very embarrassed.

That's why I was thinking about what my talent could do to them, so I took a picture.]



Q. Photo of the UN Veterans…

Why was it taken in earnest? 



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: I took pictures of military uniforms and exhibited military uniforms, but since an American veteran named Sal Scaletto, who came from the United States by chance, was watching the exhibition, I only saw foreign veterans in the news or newspapers (actually) for the first time. Because

But I was wondering because I was wearing a costume and I wanted to say thank you, so I approached and said hello and asked if I was a Korean War veteran, and my eyes were full of brilliance and pride.

So I was curious.

Why did those people come to another country and participate in the war, but do they have such pride?

I got curious and wanted to ask about it myself.

One curiosity was the beginning of this project.]




Q. Project Soldier KWV...

What is the job?



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: Project Soldier is a project where soldiers wear veteran uniforms and record those who serve the country, archive their stories, and deliver them to the next generation.

KWV means Korea War veteran.]



Q. Records of veterans…

How long have you done so far?



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: It's been 4 years and I have recorded about 1,400 people now.]




Q. First work with a veteran...

How did you feel?



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: When I first visited, I was afraid too.

What do these people think?

Wouldn't you like it?

So, when I went to England, there was a meeting at 1 o'clock, so I made an appointment for about 30 minutes after taking a picture, but when I opened the door, I saw him for the first time, and it was my grandfather next door.

Uh, are you here?

It was like this.

It was originally a 30-minute meeting, but I talked to him for about 5 hours.

At the same time, he knew a lot of things he didn't know, and they said that taking pictures wasn't important, and a young man from a country where he thought he was a forgotten veteran came and said a word of gratitude to him.]




Q. Anyone you remember during your work?



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: William Leverdra, who lost his right arm after being hit by a grenade in a battle in 1950."

In that state, he commanded and fought for another 10 hours, and on the way to the ambulance, the ambulance struck a shell again and lost his right leg again.

That's why he was the only soldier who lost his right arm and right leg on the same day and finished his military life with a double limb for the first time in the United States after the Civil War.

But how was it like he was in the Korean War when he was injured and difficult?

When I asked him, he said that he fought to defeat others in World War II, but he fought in the Korean War to save people.

As a professional soldier, the only reason you participated in the Korean War was to defend the freedom of the Republic of Korea, but you have nothing to owe.]



Q. Personal expenses cover expenses…

Looks like a lot of difficulties?



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: Even though it is difficult, I have an opportunity to go one step at a time, and there are a lot of people who help me with the cost of the flight and accommodation.

And I always think that it's really the last, but when I thought it was the last, another opportunity came up.

As a result of that, I have come so far.]



Q. What does this work mean to you?



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: When I was in school, my teacher said that photography can be a means to make money by taking something, but the original purpose is to record the present era and become a tool that can be left behind in the next era.

As I was filming, it was very important to record these people and tell them to the next generation, and it was fun.

And they want one thing.

Let me know that I fought the Korean War, don't forget.

When a picture is taken, they are recorded and you see your family or someone.

That's what they want the most]




Q. What is the purpose you want to achieve through Project Soldier KWV?



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: First, Project Soldier KWV Korean veterans will continue until the 70th anniversary of the Korean War blackout.

We plan to visit all 20 countries of the war and support countries to record and archive the stories of veterans who were there or their families and deliver them for the next generation.

I'll keep filming after 2023...

I would like



to tell you

more about why these people fought and sacrificed by exhibiting photos and videos while traveling around each country.]

Q. What do you want to convey to the younger generation?



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: The thing they wanted to protect was because of our freedom.

But because we are humans, we must not forget where we came from and then we must always remember the person who sacrificed for us, but we are still lucky, so we have the opportunity to meet and hear them in person.

Before they disappear, I would like people who wore national merit hats or when I saw veterans, I would like to say thank you.]




Q. Do you have any other goals or dreams in the future?



[Rami Hyun/Photographer: I think it is a kind of messenger.

Record the current one and deliver it next time.

I want to fulfill that role.

Then, until one person lives, until the last minute, I keep recording their stories, and we were lucky to meet them, but since we can't meet them in the next generation, the archiving work continues so that more people can feel it. This is a wish]