Recognising our past

By Enoch Park | Posted: Wednesday September 18, 2024

My name is Enoch Hyunjoon Park and I am a Year 13 student at Otago Boys' High School who was born and raised here in Dunedin.

Since 1995, the Dunedin Korean Society (DKS) has been inviting New Zealand veterans of the Korean War (Kay Force) who live in Dunedin, Otago and Southland for an Annual Grand Meeting (AGM) around 25 June (the date when the Korean War began) to show appreciation for their sacrifices and commemorate their service.

In return, Kay Force has invited DKS to a Christmas lunch to exchange greetings, a tradition that has continued for the past 29 years. I had the opportunity to attend the 2024 AGM. This led me to become more curious about the details of the Korean War and New Zealand’s contribution to it. After some research, I have discovered that the commander of the Kayforce was not only born in Dunedin but also an old boy from Otago Boys’. 

Brigadier Ronald Stuart Park was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1895, attended Otago Boys' High School from 1908 to 1913, and after graduating, he served in World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945) before retiring in February 1950. However, just after 4 months, he was appointed as the commander of Kay Force with the decision for New Zealand to participate in the Korean War in 1950 and commanded the 1000 or so volunteers who made up the Kay Force from 1950 to 1953.

After returning to New Zealand, he lived in Auckland as a transportation administrator and passed away in 1980 with no descendants. 

During my research, I found that the Korean government has not given any recognition to Ronald Park for his contribution to the Korean War and unfortunately, he has been forgotten since he passed. I am calling you to sign this petition that will be passed on to the Korean embassy in Wellington to support nominating Brigadier Ronald Stuart Park for awarding the Military Merit Medals for UN veterans.

In addition, I am working together for an opportunity for his medal to be sent to his old school, Otago Boys' High School, rather than being placed in a corner of a museum. This would allow Otago Boys' to continually remember their Old Boy who contributed in establishing democracy. 

Below is a link to relevant communications that I have made to the related parties:

Link to relevant communications

If you would like to support this initiative, please use the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qtH3TTkCjBsUyw7JiXeNy_8O_ZDmsKrDPxzRlsngDA0/edit