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Korea Defense Veterans Association

The Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) wants to grow its membership and outreach in 2024 so the millions of Americans and Koreans who served in the Republic of Korea can see how their service mattered.

The association supports the U.S.-Republic of Korea Alliance and has partnered with the Korea U.S. Alliance Foundation, or KUSAF.

This year, KDVA will open new local chapters across the U.S., increase its virtual common-interest groups on its member portal, and start several new campus clubs, said KDVA Chairman Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, USA (Ret). The association will continue programs geared toward veterans, including the Korea Revisit Program, in which the Korean government pays for veterans to visit Korea.

“This program gives Korea defense veterans the opportunity to return to Korea and see the places where they were stationed, connect with other Korea defense veterans, and see how their service changed the lives of the Korean people,” Scaparrotti said, adding the program grew to 100 veterans and their companions in 2023.

KDVA also supports the younger generation with scholarships and internship programs.

The association has seen record growth the past three years, including surpassing 10,000 members and increasing social media followers to more than 80,000.

“The perspective of why we have so much work ahead of us and why our outlook is so positive is there are 5.1 million Americans who have served in Korea since the Korean War,” said Col. Steve Lee, USA (Ret), KDVA senior vice president of operations.

“Their service matters,” Lee said. “It’s mattered in so many ways for both Americans and Koreans, and it’s changed history for the Korean people and made American lives better.”

The biggest challenge KDVA faces is getting the word out to potential members, he said, adding that membership is free.

There will be two to three more U.S. chapters opened as well as five to 10 campus clubs at colleges. Students can register the clubs and plan activities, while KDVA will provide funding and social media support as well as get speakers to attend social events, Lee said.

The mission statement of KDVA was purposely broad, Lee said, as the association did not want to limit itself in what it can do to support the U.S.-Republic of Korea Alliance and its veterans.