Photographer spends 13 years documenting Korean War veterans worldwide

For photographer RAMI, what began as a simple portrait session with Korean soldiers has evolved into a decadelong mission to document those who dedicate their lives to protecting others and preserve their sacrifices for generations to come.

The founder of the nonprofit Project Soldier has spent the past 13 years photographing active-duty service members, military families and 1950-53 Korean War veterans from around the world.

Along the way, the project has evolved from an artistic endeavor into what he now describes as a form of historical preservation and, increasingly, healing.

"I wanted to tell them, 'You are a great soldier.

You have lived an honorable life,'" RAMI said in an interview with The Korea Times.

"That was how everything started." His interest in the military was not rooted in patriotism at first.

After growing up in Korea and completing his military service, RAMI moved to San Francisco in the early 2000s to study documentary and editorial photography.

Drawn to extreme subjects, he originally dreamed of becoming a war photographer, documenting military units, law enforcem ...