Congratulations to RSL’S GAPYEONG COMMEMORATIVE SCHOLARSHIP Winners - SEOUL, KOREA
On Wednesday, 24 April 2024, a special ceremony was held in Gapyeong, South Korea, during which students from Gapyeong High School and Gapyeong Middle School received scholarship grants from RSL Australia.
The Gapyeong Commemorative Scholarships serve as a practical and enduring memorial to honour Australians who fought and lost their lives in the Korean War (1950 – 1953). They form part of an ongoing commitment to the development of the Gapyeong community and are administered through the Defence Attaché’s office in the Australian Embassy, Seoul. The scholarships perpetuate the memory of the fallen memory through direct assistance to needy children in that community. These scholarships are awarded to deserving children selected by the respective school based on the student's academic ability and economic need.
The Battle of Gapyeong [Kapyong] 23–25 April 1951, became the most significant battle for the Australian military in the Korean War. Vastly outnumbered United Nations forces (including Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders) bore the brunt of an attack by a Communist offensive in the Gapyeong River Valley. Following fierce fighting, they managed to stall the Chinese advance at a cost of 32 Australians killed and 53 wounded.
The Scholarships were presented during a commemorative service for Australian and New Zealand veterans and members of the Australian community in South Korea, at the Australian New Zealand Memorial in the Gapyeong Valley.
