Dongwon Group, StarKist host Korean War veterans event in San Antonio
Version 2: Two more outlets carried the announcement, adding the venue, the Holiday Inn Riverwalk in San Antonio, background on the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and new detail that StarKist has worked with the Chosin Few association for five years.
In short
Dongwon Group and its US subsidiary StarKist said they held an event for Korean War veterans on 3 October local time in San Antonio, Texas, at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk. Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily reported it was the annual event of the Chosin Few, with eight veterans and their families attending a dinner and music performance alongside StarKist CEO Min Eun-hong. Min thanked the veterans for their sacrifice, and Dongwon said such events have continued since honorary chairman Kim Jae-chul first held one in 2010.
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Dongwon Group said it and its US subsidiary StarKist held an event for Korean War veterans on 3 October local time in San Antonio, Texas. Seoul Economic Daily and Chosun Ilbo reported the gathering took place at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk. Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily said it was the annual event of the Chosin Few, an association that commemorates US and UN troops who fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, and that eight veterans and their families attended along with StarKist CEO Min Eun-hong and Chosin Few president Shayne Jarosz. Guests shared a dinner and a music performance, according to both reports. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Min said the veterans who fought at Chosin more than 70 years ago endured harsh conditions to defend freedom on the Korean Peninsula, and thanked them for their dedication, sacrifice and courage, according to Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily. Seoul Economic Daily also quoted him as saying that freedom has a price and that the veterans’ legacy should be remembered for generations, while Yonhap quoted him saying their legacy should be remembered and honored across generations. [ 1 , 3 ]
Seoul Economic Daily described the Battle of Chosin Reservoir as a 1950 Korean War battle between US-led UN forces and Chinese forces on the Gaema Plateau in South Hamgyong Province, fought in temperatures of around minus 30 degrees Celsius, and called it one of the war’s representative fierce battles. [ 3 ]
Yonhap reported that honorary chairman Kim Jae-chul first organized a veterans invitation event in 2010 and that the group has continued holding related events. Seoul Economic Daily also dated the practice to 2010 and added that StarKist has worked with the Chosin Few for the past five years on commemorative events for veterans and their families. Maeil Business framed its report around Dongwon having looked after US Korean War veterans for 16 years. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The documents did not give a start time for the dinner or a total attendance figure, and none of the outlets reported plans for further events. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The event extends a corporate-sponsored commemoration of Korean War veterans that Maeil Business described as running for 16 years, linking a Korean food group and its US tuna subsidiary to the memory of the wartime alliance. The documents report no policy decision, commercial deal or other consequence beyond the ceremony itself.
Key facts
- Dongwon Group and its US subsidiary StarKist held an event for Korean War veterans on 3 October local time in San Antonio, Texas. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The event took place at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk in San Antonio, according to Seoul Economic Daily and Chosun Ilbo. [ 3 , 4 ]
- It was the annual event of the Chosin Few, an association that commemorates US and UN troops who fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Eight veterans and their families attended, along with StarKist CEO Min Eun-hong and Chosin Few president Shayne Jarosz. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Guests shared a dinner and a music performance. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Min said the veterans who fought at Chosin more than 70 years ago endured harsh conditions to defend freedom on the Korean Peninsula and thanked them for their dedication, sacrifice and courage. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Dongwon Group said honorary chairman Kim Jae-chul first organized a veterans invitation event in 2010 and that the group has continued holding related events. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reported that StarKist has worked with the Chosin Few for the past five years on commemorative events for veterans and their families. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Dongwon Group and its US subsidiary StarKist held an event for Korean War veterans on 3 October local time in San Antonio, Texas. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The gathering was held at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk in San Antonio. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The event was the annual gathering of the Chosin Few, an association commemorating US and UN troops who fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Eight veterans and their families attended, along with StarKist CEO Min Eun-hong and Chosin Few president Shayne Jarosz. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Guests at the event had a dinner and a music performance. [ 1 , 3 ]
- StarKist CEO Min Eun-hong said the veterans endured harsh conditions to defend freedom on the Korean Peninsula and thanked them for their dedication, sacrifice and courage. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Dongwon Group said honorary chairman Kim Jae-chul first held a veterans invitation event in 2010 and that such events have continued since. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The exact wording of StarKist CEO Min Eun-hong’s remarks. Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily quote him similarly but not identically; Seoul Economic Daily includes the line that freedom has a price, which Yonhap’s account does not.
- What time the event began and how long it lasted. The reports say only that it was held on 3 October local time, with no start time.
- The total number of guests and details of the programme beyond a dinner and a music performance. Only Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily describe the programme, naming eight veterans, their families and two named officials without giving an overall attendance figure.
- Whether Dongwon Group or StarKist have scheduled further veterans events. The documents describe past events and the 2010 origin but state no future plans or commitments.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Dongwon Group and StarKist hold the Chosin Few’s annual event at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas, with eight Korean War veterans and their families attending a dinner and music performance. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Yonhap reports the event, quoting StarKist CEO Min Eun-hong and citing Dongwon’s events for veterans since 2010. [ 1 ]
- Maeil Business reports that Dongwon has looked after US Korean War veterans for 16 years. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports the event, adding the venue, background on the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and StarKist’s five-year cooperation with the Chosin Few. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the event was held at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk in San Antonio. [ 4 ]