Hansik (한식) is a traditional Korean holiday that honors the memory of ancestors. On this day, Koreans visit the graves of their relatives, tend to them, perform rituals of remembrance (Jesa/ 차례 / 제사), and make sacrifices in the form of food.
On April 5, Hansik was also celebrated at the War Museum. Representatives of the Korean community in Ukraine honored the memory of their loved ones who died defending Ukraine.
"We are here today because we remember. And we thank everyone who defended our land," said Volodymyr Nam, President of the Kyiv Association of Koreans, in his speech. The Director of the Korean Education Center, Jeong Chang Yun, spoke about the power of traditions and memory. He described how ancestors are honored on this day in Korea.
Representatives of other national communities of Ukraine also joined the event.
Maria, the Head of the Youth Council and a representative of the Greek community from Mariupol, spoke about the common pages of the history of national communities. She recalled the heroic defense of the city by Ukrainian soldiers of different ethnic backgrounds, including Greek and Korean. She emphasized the importance of remembering each defender.
Aleksei Frantskevich, Head of the Free Belarus Foundation, also expressed solidarity with the Ukrainians’ struggle. He emphasized that Belarusians, like Ukrainians, understand the value of freedom and the need for joint resistance to dictatorship and occupation.
Following a special Eastern tradition of honoring the memory of the dead, the participants remembered citizens of Korean descent whose lives were cut short by russian aggression:
- Artem Khan, a Ukrainian boxing champion who went to the front at 19. He died on April 30, 2022, in the Donetsk region.
- Ihor Park, killed by the russian military in his home in the Kharkiv region in March 2022.
- Pavlo Li, an actor who lost his life in Irpin.
- Maksym Dehai, who stood up to defend Ukraine in the first days of the full-scale invasion. He was killed in the Luhansk region and awarded the Order for Courage, 3rd class.
- Oleksii Park, a combatant from the first days of the invasion, was wounded in the Kherson region and near Bakhmut, but he fought to the last.
During this event, Hanna, the mother of the fallen hero Artem Khan, donated her son’s personal belongings, including his sports equipment, to the Museum’s collection. Iryna Kotsabiuk, the Museum researcher, expressed her sincere gratitude for the artifacts and for Hanna’s son. She assured that "the memory of Artem, his community, and all the defenders of Ukraine will live on in the Museum."
The event ended with the traditional Korean ceremony of Jesa (차례 / 제사). This day was not just an act of remembrance but also a testament to the enduring connection between generations, cultures, and peoples. Traditions that transcend borders are united by a shared love for one’s homeland, honoring heroes, and an unwavering faith in Victory.
