Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Korean War: Reflecting on the Past, Building the Future
The Nogunri International Peace Foundation will host the Nogunri International Peace Forum on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Washington, D.C.
This special event commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Korean War and the No Gun Ri Incident. It serves as a meaningful platform to honor the sacrifices of Korean War veterans and the victims of No Gun Ri, while looking ahead to a future focused on human rights, peace, reconciliation, healing, coexistence and partnership.
By transforming the painful legacy of No Gun Ri into a catalyst for healing and constructive dialogue, the forum aims to promote lasting peace, increased awareness of human rights, and a renewed commitment to educating future generations about the Korean War’s significance. The event also reaffirms the enduring ROK–U.S. alliance.
The forum is open to Korean War veterans, POW/MIA families, Korea Defense Veterans, veterans’ families, social studies educators, Korean American community members, human rights advocates, and other interested civic and educational organizations.
Program Highlights
- Welcome & Opening Remarks by Chairman Chung Koodo, No Gun Ri International Peace Foundation
- Keynote Address by General John H. Tilelli, Jr., U.S. Army (Ret.), KWVMF Board Chairman
- Unveiling of a New Lesson Plan on the No Gun Ri Incident
- Special Musical Performance by K-pop Artist TAEHA KIM
- Presentations by educators from the Korean War Legacy Foundation
- Human Rights Reflections from Karen Robinson, RFK Human Rights
- Commemorative Ceremony honoring POWs, MIAs, and No Gun Ri Victims
Teaching Topics
- Human Rights
- The Korean War
- Teaching Through Memorials
- Civic Engagement
Event Details
- Date: Friday, July 25, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Location: Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel, Washington, D.C.
- Lunch and dinner will be served. Along with complimentary parking.
Educator Participation & Incentives
- Registration Fee: $25
- Teacher Incentives:
-$125 travel stipend (provided at the conclusion of the event)
-Certificate of Professional Development
Dress Code: Semi-formal attire is requested.
- Men: Button-down shirts, dress pants, jackets, and ties encouraged
- Women: Dresses, skirts, or dress pants with blouses
- Please refrain from wearing T-shirts, shorts, or sandals
Teacher Registration Link
This registration link is for teachers only.
If you have questions about the event, please reach out to Joseph Karb at joseph.karb@gmail.com.
Anyone wishing to attend who is not a teacher should contact:
Event coordinator, Subin Jeon
📞 (720) 390-0883
✉️ jeonsub89@gmail.com
Mapae Grant Award
World History Digital Education Foundation [WHDE]
Korean War Legacy Foundation [KWLF]
The World History Digital Education Foundation and the Korean War Legacy Foundation are honored to have a cadre of dedicated educators sharing information about Korea and the Korean War to teachers throughout the United States. To recognize the outstanding work of these teachers, we created the Mapae Award.
The Mapae Award is based on the medallion used by officials of the central government during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The King’s hand-picked special officials, called “Eosa” (literally meaning the official dispatched by the King) traveled through regional areas on public duties and primarily prosecuted corrupt officials in the provinces. In most instances, the King secretly appointed Eosa, who were often the first prize awardee in Joseon’s national civil service examination called Gwageo. Eosa were given a medal, the Mapae, which identified their special status as the King’s appointed secret prosecutor and gave them the right to conscript horses for transportation to the provinces. Eosa with Mapae were allowed to have a special access to saddle horses kept at government-run post stations upon presenting their Mapae medal. The bearer of the medal, which was issued by a government agency called the Sangseowon (Office of Seals and Badges), was entitled to use the number of horses carved on the badge and was typically accompanied by a station attendant who guided him to the next station approximately 16 kilometers away. The attendant returned to his home station with the horse under his charge, while the traveler continued on his journey via other stations to his final destination.
Similar to the Joseon officials, teachers who have been awarded the medal will be provided resources, based on the number of horses on their medal, to help them share knowledge throughout the United States about Korean history, South Korea’s simultaneous rapid economic development and democratization, and the Korean War.
One Horse
Qualification
- Attend a WHDE or KWLF workshop and successfully complete all workshop requirements
Available Resources
- Up to $500 to host a workshop for at least 12 teachers. Teachers may also propose a special project related to Korea or the Korean War.
- Funding may be used for food, speaker honorariums, materials and/or room rental.
- Teachers must submit a budget and be pre-approved before making any expenditure. Receipts or invoices must be produced before any payments are made.
- NOTE: We are happy to assist in developing a workshop program.
Two Horses
Qualification
- Successfully complete a workshop or special project at the one horse level.
Available Resources
- Up to $1000 to host a workshop for at least 15 teachers. Teachers may also propose a special project related to Korea or the Korean War.
- Funding may be used for food, speaker honorariums, materials and/or room rental. Teachers at the two-horse level may use $250 of the grant funds as a personal honorarium.
- Teachers must submit a budget and be pre-approved before making any expenditure. Receipts or invoices must be produced before any payments are made.
- NOTE: We are happy to assist in developing a workshop program.
Three Horses
Qualification
- Successfully complete a workshop or special project at the two-horse level.
Available Resources
- Up to $1500 to host a workshop for at least 20 teachers. Teachers may also propose a special project related to Korea or the Korean War.
- Funding may be used for food, speaker honorariums, materials, room rental. Teachers at the three-horse level may use $350 of the grant funds as a personal honorarium.
- Teachers must submit a budget and be pre-approved before making any expenditure. Receipts or invoices must be produced before any payments are made.
- NOTE: We are happy to assist teachers in developing a workshop program.
Four Horses
Qualification
- Teachers at the four-horse level are trusted regular consultants for the foundation. All teachers at this level will go through an application and interview process.
Available Resources
- Teachers at the four-horse level will be tasked with special projects and will be given an appropriate budget to complete all tasks.
Five Horses
Qualification
- Teachers at the five-horse level are project managers who have shown excellent leadership qualities.
Available Resources
- Teachers at the five-horse level will develop special projects and workshops and will be given an appropriate budget to complete all tasks.
The 6th Annual
World Congress of Teachers of the Korean War
The Korean War Legacy Foundation is honored to partner with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, R.O.K, and the New Zealand History Teachers Association to host the 2025 World Congress of Teachers in Queenstown, New Zealand. Dignitaries from New Zealand and the Republic of Korea will join teachers from 22 United Nations member countries that participated in the Korean War to share ideas on how the war and its legacy can be taught in the classroom. A special area of focus will be on New Zealand’s new Korean War curriculum book that will be launched at this event. The World Congress is an opportunity to recognize the sacrifice of Korean War veterans and the importance of studying the war’s legacy in our schools.
The programs will include:
- Keynote speech by the Minister of the MPVA
- Special lecture on Korea’s miraculous economic development by Prof. LEE Doowon, Dean of Underwood International College, Yonsei University
- Sessions on the new New Zealand Korean War curriculum book published in partnership with the New Zealand History Teachers Association
- Sessions on previously released curricular books that have been completed in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkiye.
- Panel discussion with New Zealand Korean War veterans
- Collaboration opportunities between participants from the 22 countries
- Gala dinner on the evening of October 11th to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the breakout of the Korean War.
DATE
- Thursday, October 9th: Arrival -- Welcome Reception
- Friday, October 10th: World Congress
- Saturday October 11th: World Congress
- Sunday, October 12th: Departure
TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS
- Must be proficient in English
- Currently teaching a course that could include instruction on the Korean War
- Demonstrate a desire to learn and teach about the Korean War and its legacy
- Currently teaching social studies or history for ages 12-18 in one of the 22 United Nations participating member countries
- Are interested in continuing the work completed at the conference through a fellowship or special project
- As part of a service component of attendance, teachers are required to either type a transcript for one of our interviews, interview a Korean War Veteran/Korea Defense Veteran (KDV), or create a lesson as part of a service component of attendance
*KDV are service personnel who served in Korea from February 1, 1955 - present
APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE ON: FRIDAY 30 MAY 2025
REGISTRATION
- A $75 USD registration fee is required upon acceptance.
- As part of the registration, you must provide a letter from your school indicating that you are currently a history/social studies teacher.
- In order to participate in the World Congress, you are required to complete one of the tasks listed below. You may complete the task before or after the event; however, you will not receive your travel reimbursement until the task is completed. Specific guidelines for tasks will be shared after registration.
- Transcribe a recorded interview for a Korean War Veteran from the KWLF video archives.
- Write a lesson plan on the Korean War.
- Interview a Korean War Veteran or a Korea Defense Veteran (KDV).
*KDV are service personnel who served in Korea from February 1, 1955 - present
ACCOMMODATIONS AND MEALS
- A single occupancy hotel room will be provided from October 9-12
- Rooms with two twin beds can be requested, but not guaranteed. If you have an additional adult in your room, you will be required to pay a 30 NZ$ daily fee for breakfast. If you would like to use the pool and facilities at the Hilton, an additional 20 NZ$ fee per person would apply.
- All meals will be provided as follows:
- October 9th: Arrival day, no meals provided, evening reception TBA
- October 10th: Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided
- October 11th: Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided
- October 12th: Departure day, breakfast provided
TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT
Teachers from New Zealand
- Up to $275 USD airfare reimbursement for travel will be provided. If you are driving to the conference, up to $275 USD can be reimbursed for mileage at a rate of .60 USD per kilometer. Participants are responsible for any hotel parking fees.
Teachers from Australia
- Up to $450 USD airfare reimbursement for travel will be provided.
Teachers from North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa
- Up to $500 USD airfare reimbursement for travel will be provided.
Please take note of the following:
- Travel will be reimbursed after the foundation task is completed and at the conclusion of the conference.
- All flights must be economy class.
- When checking into the hotel, you must provide a credit card for incidental charges.
- If driving, you are responsible for hotel parking.
- The hotel is a 5-10 minute taxi ride from the airport. You are responsible for your own transport to and from the hotel.
EXPECTATIONS
- Participants are expected to bring a laptop.
- Dress for all events is summer business casual for all teacher workshops. The Gala on October 11th is semi-formal (jacket/tie for men, dress or suit for women).
- Participants are expected to attend all meals and events. Guests are not permitted to attend any program-sponsored events/meals.