2025 Asian Leadership Conference Kicks Off in Seoul

The 2025 Asian Leadership Conference (ALC) commenced on May 21 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul. During the opening ceremony, Ernest Storms, the son of the late U.S. Army Major Harvey Storms, received the Apostle of Peace Medal. Also present were Song Jae-sook, daughter of the late war hero Song Young-hwan, and Kim Jong-gil, brother of the late soldier Kim Soo-deok, who were honored with certificates and plaques. In a commemorative photo, John Hamre, President of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, is seen on the far left, while former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell is on the far right.

In a video message, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) had identified the 100th U.S. service member from the 55 sets of remains returned by North Korea in 2018. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to remember the pain of the past, especially as this year marks the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.

The joint statement signed during the 2018 U.S.-North Korea summit included provisions for the recovery and repatriation of U.S. military remains. In July of that year, 55 boxes containing remains were handed over to the U.S.

In March, it was revealed that the 100th identified service member was Army Lieutenant William H. Hott, who was killed in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in North Korea.

Ernest Storms, aged 77, attended the ceremony to accept the Apostle of Peace Medal on behalf of his father, who had left behind three young sons and a pregnant wife when he participated in the Korean War. Major Storms went missing during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir at the age of 34. The Apostle of Peace Medal was established by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs in 2010 to honor the sacrifices and contributions of veterans from various countries on the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.

Expressing his gratitude, Ernest stated, "I am thankful that Korea continues to remember the fallen from the Korean War. I am overwhelmed with emotion and will never forget the DPAA's efforts to recover my father's remains." The ceremony also honored families of other unnamed soldiers who served in the war.