27/07/2026
On 27 July each year, we commemorate Korean Veterans' Day. This is the anniversary of the day in 1953 when an armistice was signed to end the fighting in Korea. This day is a time for us to remember the almost 18,000 Australians who served in the war, including some 340 who lost their lives.
The Korean War started on June 25, 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea. Within days, the North Korean army took control of South Korea's capital, Seoul.
In response, the United Nations Security Council labelled North Korea as the aggressor and formed a command to assist South Korea. Australia joined 20 other countries to send military forces to help defend South Korea.
This war became one of the most devastating conflicts in recent history, with many major cities in Korea suffering significant damage. The total number of people who died reached around 3 million, including a large number of civilians.
Fighting officially came to an end on July 27, 1953, when an agreement was signed by representatives from the United States, North Korea, and China. Some Australian military personnel stayed in Korea until 1957 as part of a peacekeeping force after the fighting stopped.
The Korean War is often called the "forgotten war" because it took place between two more well-known conflicts: World War II and the Vietnam War.
