Although North and South Korea technically remain “at war,” the cease-fire that is commonly referred to as the “end” of the Korean War, will commemorate its 50th anniversary on July 27, 2003. The Republic of Korea (ROK), in an ongoing effort to recognize the efforts of the men that served during the “forgotten war,” is encouraging these veterans to return to Korea to see how the nation has changed over the past 50 years.

Several tour operators are offering 50th Anniversary Packages, which are customized specifically to the needs of the veterans, and generally include tours of historic sites relevant to the Korean War, including battlefield tours, a Seoul City Tour, and a tour of Incheon, home of the famous amphibious landing on September 15, 1950. Each veteran traveling to Korea on one of these tours will be awarded a commemorative medial at an exclusive appreciation ceremony. Companies offering Korean War Veteran’s programs include California Pacific Tours (650/615-4750); Olympus Travel (213/487-0947); Travel Plex (800/422-9596); Korea Task Force 2000 (636/458-4168); and Walkerhill Worldwide Travel (800/448-4296). For more information about Korean War Veteran Programs, contact the Korea National Tourism Organization at 800/TOUR-KOREA or visit the website at www.tour2korea.com.