LONDON (Yonhap News) ― South Korean Olympic athletes on Thursday paid tribute to British veterans who fought in the Korean War, remembering their sacrifices to protect South Korea’s freedom.

South Korean medalists from the London Olympics were joined by five veterans from the 1950-53 conflict at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Korean Olympic Committee said.

Medal winners included Ki Bo-bae, double gold medalist in women’s archery, Park Tae-hwan, who grabbed two silver medals in men’s freestyle swimming, and Kim Hyeon-woo, the men’s Greco-Roman wrestling champion.

They lined up before the commemorative plaque in the basement of the cathedral and placed flowers in solemn remembrance.

According to the defense ministry in Seoul, Britain dispatched more than 56,000 troops to the Korean Peninsula during the war, second most behind the United States. Of them, 1,078 were killed in action while 2,674 were injured, the ministry said.

This is the second Olympics where South Korean athletes paid tribute to Korean War veterans overseas, after the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.

“We are what we are today because of the veterans’ sacrifices,” Park Tae-hwan said. “This was a meaningful occasion for the athletes to participate in and remember their dedication.”