LG invited the Kagnew Choir — composed of descendants of Ethiopian veterans who fought in the Korean War — to LG Science Park in Magok, Seoul, on Thursday. LG has pledged to sponsor a dedicated rehearsal space and equipment for the choir in Ethiopia. Deputy Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kang Yun-jin (center row, fourth from right) and LG Science Park CEO Jeong Su-heon (center row, third from left) sing the Korean children's song "Hometown Spring" with members of the Kagnew Choir. [LG]
LG invited the Kagnew Choir — composed of descendants of Ethiopian veterans who fought in the Korean War — to LG Science Park in Magok, Seoul, on Thursday. LG has pledged to sponsor a dedicated rehearsal space and equipment for the choir in Ethiopia. Deputy Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kang Yun-jin (center row, fourth from right) and LG Science Park CEO Jeong Su-heon (center row, third from left) sing the Korean children's song "Hometown Spring" with members of the Kagnew Choir. [LG]

LG Group announced Friday it will sponsor a dedicated rehearsal space and audio equipment for the Kagnew Choir, a choral ensemble made up of descendants of Ethiopian veterans who served in the Kagnew Battalion during the Korean War.

On Thursday, LG invited visiting Kagnew Choir members to LG Science Park in Magok, Seoul, where the company showcased its latest technology and products and held a ceremony to mark the rehearsal space and equipment sponsorship.

Working with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans and the nonprofit Tatteuthanharu, LG will build a dedicated choral rehearsal space for the choir in Ethiopia and supply audio and IT equipment needed for practice, including laptops, speakers and projectors.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kang Yun-jin, Tatteuthanharu CEO Kim Gwang-il and LG Science Park CEO Jeong Su-heon. LG also gave LG Electronics portable speakers as gifts to all Kagnew Choir members — both those who made the trip to Korea and those who could not.

The Kagnew Choir arrived in South Korea on June 22 and has been on a domestic concert tour. The visit concludes Monday with a performance at the UN Forces Veterans Day ceremony, wrapping up a 36-day stay. LG covered all costs associated with the choir's visit, including airfare and accommodation.

Choir member Amen Buzayehu Tekalign said the sponsorship meant a great deal to her. "There were many times I wanted to practice singing but felt frustrated because there was no proper space," she said. "I am so happy knowing we will finally have a space of our own where we can sing freely without worrying."

Founded in 2018, the Kagnew Choir has had no dedicated rehearsal space and has had to find a suitable venue each time it practices. The new space will be built inside the Korean War Veterans Hall in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, which the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans established in 2006.

Ethiopia was the only African country to send ground troops to the Korean War. Emperor Haile Selassie dispatched the Imperial Bodyguard — the Kagnew Battalion — whose name means "one who vanquishes the enemy" in the local language. The battalion fought on the central front line and went undefeated across 253 engagements. During the war, 122 Kagnew soldiers were killed and 536 were wounded.

The Kagnew Choir is composed mainly of third-generation descendants of Kagnew Battalion veterans and performs at official events organized by the Ethiopian government. At its performances, the choir sings Korean songs including Arirang alongside traditional Ethiopian music, serving as a cultural bridge between the two countries.

LG has consistently carried out corporate social responsibility activities in Ethiopia under the close attention of its top leadership.

The LG-KOICA Hope Vocational Training School, established in 2014, provides quality IT and technical education to local youth and has become a recognized model for global education aid, offering internship opportunities at LG Electronics' Central Africa service subsidiary to outstanding graduates. The rehearsal space project and support for the choir's visit to Korea reflect the wishes of LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, who has sought to express gratitude to countries that fought alongside South Korea.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans presented LG with a certificate of appreciation in the name of Minister Kwon O-eul on Thursday, recognizing the company's leadership in international veterans affairs programs — including the Hope Vocational Training School — and its contributions to promoting veterans diplomacy.

"We will continue to support the descendants of war veterans so they can achieve economic independence and freely develop their cultural talents and pursue their dreams," an LG official said.


jeongwan@heraldcorp.com