Hyosung Group President Cho Hyun-joon, second from right, stands with soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, who were at the scene of Aug. 4 mine explosion, beside the Foot of Peace sculpture during its unveiling ceremony at Imjingak's Pyeonghwa-Nuri Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Hyosung Group



By Park Jin-hai

Hyosung Group held the opening ceremony on Wednesday for the sculpture commemorating the soldiers injured during the North Korean landmine attack in the DMZ in August.

The company sponsored the creation of the sculpture, "The first step to peace and unity ― the foot of peace," at Imjingak Pyeonghwa-Nuri Park in Gyeonggi Province. The 170 soldiers on duty that August day were present at the opening ceremony, including the two severely injured in the attack.

Hyosung said it commissioned the sculpture to pay tribute to the patriots, and to wish for peaceful unification.

It paid 200 million won for the monument.

"The ‘foot of peace' evokes the wishes of all people in thanking our soldiers for their hard work, contributions and sacrifices, and hoping for a peaceful unification," said Hyosung Group President Cho Hyun-joon during the opening speech. "I hope this park will play an essential role in uniting the hearts of all the Korean people into one."

On the morning of Aug. 4, three North Korean-made wooden box antipersonnel landmines exploded in the South-controlled area of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) while eight South Korean soldiers were conducting a regular patrol.

Staff Sergeant Ha Jae-hun lost both legs and Staff Sergeant Kim Jung-won lost his right foot from the ankle while trying to help Ha get out of the site.

During the ceremony, the two soldiers were given the Order of Military Merit.

The art piece portrays the foot of a soldier who lost it to landmine explosions as well as a reborn foot that walks naked across the DMZ to the North in peace. The sculpture contained a melted shell our soldiers fired against the North Korean artillery attack in the Yeongcheon area, northwest of Seoul, following the landmine explosion.

The earth beneath the sculpture was carried from the DMZ, symbolizing that the visitors to the park can walk on the DMZ.