In 1950, communist North Korea invaded South Korea. As a result, the United States, together with South Korea and United Nations armies, drove back the invaders in a three-year bloody war and on July 27, 1953, at the 38th Parallel, a cease-fire was declared. Today, South Korea is a leading industrial nation with a democratic government thanks to US efforts while North Korea remains a dictatorship, isolated with a ruined economy.

In an effort to ensure that the US military men and women who fought so hard for his country's freedom get the recognition and respect they rightfully deserve, Plainview resident Gary Euikwon Kim, 44, is paying tribute to them through the language he knows best - art.

Kim, one the most well-known portrait and figurative artists in South Korea today, came to the United States four years ago and has spent the last two years painting oil portraits of Long Island residents who served in the Korean War. These paintings, along with a wide array of Korean War memorabilia, uniforms, photographs and living history videos will be available to the public through a three-week exhibit this month at the Chelsea Mansion at Muttontown Preserve. The exhibit is rightfully titled "Fifty Years Later: Portraits by Gary Euikwon Kim."

The idea for the portraits first came to be nearly two years ago after Kim and Tom Riley, president of the Korean War Veterans Association, Nassau County Chapter #1 (KWVA-NCC#1), met at the Arumdaun Presbyterian Church in Bethpage.

"[Kim] introduced himself, said he was an artist from Korea and mentioned that, in appreciation for what American soldiers did for his country, he would like to paint portraits of local veterans," said Riley who served in the United States Army from 1951-1953. "I thought it was a wonderful gesture on his part. It was such a beautiful sentiment [and] I was surprised because no other country is as grateful to veterans as those from Korea. It is a wonderful thing."

As a result, Riley was the first veteran painted and since 2001, Kim has painted 33 Long Island veterans who served in various military divisions during the Korean War conflict, including members of KWVA-NCC#1 from Hicksville, Levittown, Bethpage, Farmingdale, Massapequa, Seaford and Westbury.

Born in 1959, Kim wasn't alive during the Korean War but felt it was only right to honor those who fought for his country's freedom. "I came up with the idea to paint them because they have a special relationship with my country," said Kim. "They fought for Korea and saved it. I wanted to reward them for their sacrifice." Kim's sister and brother are still residing in Korea.

Albert Culen, a resident of Westbury since 1967 and the subject of a Kim portrait, served as a ground control approach radar technician for the United States Air Force during the 1950s and completed a one-year isolation tour in Iwo Jima during 1952. According to Culen, it's nice to see that, even half a century later, America's efforts are still appreciated.

"At that time, [serving your country] was just something you did. Either you were drafted or you enlisted," said Culen, adding that he personally enlisted because, at the time, he was a college student who found that the Air Force offered the technical jobs he wanted. "I said to myself 'That's what I am interested in. That's where I am best suited and can do the best work in helping the nation, the war effort and myself.'"

A member of the New York Air National Guard from 1975 until retiring in 1991, Culen said it is important that the Korean War not be forgotten. "There is always talk about the Second World War, then they pass over Korea and go onto Vietnam and through to where we are now," he said. "All the credit goes to those who were in other conflicts, but Korea has become the Forgotten War because it was originally just a police action. I never looked at my service as something to be honored for. It was a duty that I fulfilled and, to be truthful, second nature."

Also featured in Kim's exhibit is Hicksville resident Bill Boyce who served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1954. According to the Korean War veteran, the portrait is a very nice gesture. "It is always nice to feel appreciated and he's done a nice job," Boyce said.

The portraits will be given to the veterans once the exhibit is over so that they will have a permanent reminder of Kim's gratitude.

"Fifty Years Later: Portraits by Gary Euikwon Kim" will kick off Sunday, Nov. 9, the eve of Veterans Day, with a reception from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Chelsea Mansion. The program will also include the Arumdaun Presbyterian Church Children's Chorus, with a benediction by retired Reverend William Rambo. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets for the opening reception are required and a $10 per person donation is suggested. Proceeds will go to support an education award fund established to benefit both American and Korean-American students.

Kim's exhibit will also be open Nov. 13-16; Nov. 20-23; and Nov. 28-30 from noon to 5 p.m. Admission on these days is free. Please note: the exhibit will be closed Monday through Wednesday each week and on Thursday, Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving. For further information, call Tom Riley, KWVA-NCC#1 president, at 868-8607. Schools interested in bringing classes to the exhibit for a history presentation should contact Jack Hayne of KWVA-NCC#1 at 429-1070.

"The historic Chelsea Mansion at Muttontown Preserve and the Nov. 9 opening are the ideal place and time to honor the county's men and women who themselves made history more than 50 years ago when they went to protect the freedom of Korea," said County Executive Thomas Suozzi.

Local Korean War Veterans featured in the "Fifty Years Later: Portraits by Gary Euikwon Kim" exhibit include:

• Charles Bours of Levittown: US Air Force 1955-1958

• Bill Boyce of Hicksville: US Air Force 1951-1954

• Joseph Carco of Hicksville: US Army 1951-1953

• Albert Culen of Westbury: US Air Force 1951-1955; NY Air National Guard 1975-1991

• Paul Danna of Bethpage

• Edward Fenton - North Massapequa: US Army National Guard

• David Klapow of Seaford

• Emanuel Lagatta of Hicksville

• Irene Mandra of Farmingdale: POW/MIA Activist

• Gene Marksteiner of Levittown: US Marine Corps 1952-1955

• Henry E. Nowicki of Westbury: US Army 1950-1952

• Thomas O'Brien of Seaford: US Marine Corps 1948-1952

• Raymond O'Connor of Seaford: US Army 1953-1955

• Larry O'Leary of Hicksville: US Marine Corps 1953-1955

• Jean Quinn of Syosset: US Navy 1949-1952

• Howard Plattner of Westbury: US Army 1951-1953

• William Puls of Seaford: US Army 1952-1954

• Irwin Saltzman of North Massapequa: US Army 1951-1953

• Donald J. Zoeller of Oyster Bay: US Army 1951-1953