Kazakhstan's Minister of Culture and Information Arman Kyrykbaev visited the memorial complex in Daejeon, where Korean General Hong Beom-do is buried. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

According to the ministry's press service, the ceremony was held on the instructions of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

As part of the official delegation

The new head of the Ministry of Culture, Arman Kyrykbaev, is part of the official delegation of the head of state to the Republic of Korea. The visit to the memorial in Daejeon is included in the program of the trip.

A ceremony with an honor guard took place at the memorial. The minister laid flowers and honored the memory of General Hong Beom-do, who devoted his life to the struggle for Korea's independence.

The Daejeon Memorial Complex

The Daejeon Memorial Complex is considered one of the main places of remembrance in South Korea. About 150,000 people with special merits before the country rest there.

The history of Hong Beom-do holds a special place in relations between Kazakhstan and Korea. The general spent the last years of his life in Kazakhstan. After his death, he was buried in Kyzylorda.

Return to the historical homeland

In 2021, with the assistance of the Kazakh side, the remains of Hong Beom-do were transferred to South Korea and reburied in Daejeon. This year marks five years since the general's return to his historical homeland.

At the end of the visit, Arman Kyrykbaev left an entry in the book of honored guests.

"The visit to the memorial became part of the state visit program and another symbolic gesture in memory of the shared history of the two peoples," the ministry noted.

Talks in Seoul

The day before, Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Lee Jae-myung held talks in Seoul in an expanded format, where the head of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, once again thanked his colleague for assistance in returning the remains of the national hero to his homeland.

Thus, the visit to the memorial complex is seen as a continuation of relations between Kazakhstan and Korea, based on historical memory and mutual respect.