Yellowknife (July 18/03) - Delegates from across Canada will be going on the Korea Pilgrimage 2003 in honour of the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice.

Jhillian Adams can't wait to explore the thriving culture of South Korea. - Amy Collins/NNSL photo

Jhillian Adams of Yellowknife is one of 13 youth representatives from the provinces and territories leaving on July 22.

More than 100 veterans, officials and delegates will be heading to Seoul, a city of 11 million, its the starting point of their 12-day trip.

"I feel honoured to be chosen to go," Adams said. "I'd really like to meet the veterans and hear from Korean people."

Adams researched the Korean War prior to knowing about this trip. She said it was difficult to research "Canada's forgotten war," United Nations first peacekeeping effort.

She's looking forward to learning about why Canadians participated and "why it's important it's not forgotten."

According to Adams' research, there wasn't much support for Canadian soldiers during the Korean War and none when the veterans came back.

"It was a great tragedy," she said. "I'm honoured to be let in this exclusive club. I'm getting an opportunity most people don't get."

Delegates will get an opportunity to have "face to face contact with North Korean people."

Adams' responsibilities include wreath-laying, visiting schools and going to receptions and ceremonies. The group will also visit Panmunjom, Gapyong and Busan.

The trip is sponsored and paid for by the Veterans Association of Canada.

The delegates were chosen by Encounters with Canada, a federally funded program that brings Canadian youth aged 15-17 to Ottawa for a week to explore the value of cultural/political diversity.

Adams went to Ottawa in September to meet with other youth interested in sports and fitness.

All delegates were involved with Encounters.

"It was a really interesting experience to go into an environment where the only emphasis was to meet other people I didn't know."

Sarah Kudluarok also spent a week in Ottawa as part of Encounters with Canada.

"My teacher asked me if I wanted to go to Ottawa," she said.

Kudluarok, from Sanikiluaq, was chosen as the Nunavut representative. She's looking forward to "learning (about) the war."