Overview
During the Korean War, Italy was a non-UN member, but in response to the International League of Red Cross Societies' appeal for rescue assistance, on October 16, 1951, 67 medical officers—6 medical officers, 2 administrative officers, 1 pharmacist, 1 chaplain, 6 nurses, 6 non-commissioned officers, and 45 enlisted soldiers—were dispatched to Korea, and a medical unit was stationed at Seoul Wooshin Elementary School. The Italian medical unit not only treated casualties but also civilians handled treatment, treating 230,000 soldiers and Korean citizens by January 30, 1955. They devoted particular effort to eradicating civilian parasites, and during the Yeongdeungpo train accident on September 17, 1952, they responded swiftly to minimize casualties. On June 2, 1989, Graziela Signolotti, the Italian ambassador to Korea, installed a commemorative plaque on the wall of a teacher at Seoul Wooshin Elementary School, where the Italian volunteer corps was stationed, to honor the noble dedication of the Italian volunteer corps. However, after the building was demolished at the end of July 1999, with support from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Korea, a monument was erected on August 10, 1999, and relocated to the current Wiji site.