Kovoy

Kovoy

East Sepik Province | Papua New Guinea

S 03 25.281 E 143 26.342 Small village to the west of Boiken, and east of Banak.

Japanese Memorial
Two memorial markers are set up in a simple stone garden at the village. Some helmets and other wartime fragments line the memoral, and prayer sticks left from the last Japanese visitors to the site. Photo by Justin Taylan August 8, 2005

Korean Memorial
Dedicated in 2002, this simple memorial is built onto a concrete slab on the ground, a plaque on the left is in english, and a plaque at right in Korean. Created by veteran Chang Byung Mook. Photo by Justin Taylan August 8, 2005 The plaque reads:

Monument in Memory of
Koreans Who Died During WWII

This monument is for forlone souls of about 5,000 Korean war victims. They were comitted to jungle warfare in East Papua New Guinea islands after being taken by force for the purpose of waging futile war of agression after the Japanese Declaration of war against the Unites States and Great Britain December 8, 1941.

1. You lonely forlone souls were committed to an honorless war of agression and were taken away from home. May lost their lives for no purpose becoming the feed of maggots. How can we suppress our sorrow and pity?

2. Now more than a half century has passed since the end of the war of agression. The dawn of the new millenium has left your lost souls wandering in a dark jungle and fathomless heaven. Please find your peace and rest your soul here now and forever.

Chang Byung Mook
Representative of the survivors

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