"Forever Upholding the Sacrifice and Dedication in the Yeonpyeongdo Shelling Incident"

Marine Corps Headquarters, 12th Anniversary Victory Ceremony of the Yeonpyeong Island Shelling

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Marine Corps Headquarters held a memorial ceremony for the 12th anniversary of the Yeonpyeong Island shelling battle heroes and a victory commemoration ceremony on the 23rd at the National Daejeon National Cemetery.

The Marine Corps stated that the event embodied a pledge never to forget the noble spirit of sacrifice and dedication of the battle heroes of the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, the late Sergeant Seo Jeong-woo and Private Moon Gwang-wook, and a determination to continue to fully protect the northwestern islands.

The event held at the Yeonpyeong Island shelling war dead cemetery in Daejeon National Cemetery was attended by the bereaved families of the two war heroes, veterans, Kim Tae-seong, Commander of the Marine Corps, Lee Jong-ho, Chief of Naval Operations, former Marine Corps commanders, active-duty soldiers, and about 200 others.

Commander Kim Tae-seong said, "Twelve years ago today, all Marine Corps soldiers and civilian employees on Yeonpyeong Island were the protagonists of victory and heroes of the Republic of Korea," adding, "We will forever remember and carry on the sacrifice and dedication of that day and become a patriotic and loyal Marine Corps that reports victory anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstances."

Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, who was on an overseas business trip, delivered a memorial and commemorative speech read by a Ministry of National Defense official, stating, "Our military inherits the spirit of certain victory shown by the heroes of the Yeonpyeong Island shelling battle and maintains a firm military readiness posture capable of fighting and winning at any time." He added, "If North Korea carries out a direct provocation, we will respond immediately and decisively within the scope of self-defense."

Sergeant Major Shin Yong-han (then Staff Sergeant), who directly participated in the battle as the weather team leader of Artillery 7th Company during the shelling, read a retrospective filled with pride and longing for the battle heroes, moving the participants solemnly. The Yeonpyeong Island shelling battle was a fight on November 23, 2010, at 2:34 p.m., when the Marine Corps Yeonpyeong Unit responded immediately with K-9 self-propelled howitzers against North Korea's surprise artillery provocation. At that time, two Marines were killed in action and 16 were wounded seriously or moderately.

Sergeant Seo Jeong-woo was killed while returning to the unit after going out to the pier for his last leave, and Private Moon Gwang-wook was a Marine who had been transferred to the Yeonpyeong Unit just over a month before and was killed during battle preparations.

This battle was previously called the "Yeonpyeong Island shelling provocation" but was officially renamed the Yeonpyeong Island shelling battle by the Ministry of National Defense in March last year. The Marine Corps designates November 21?25 as the Yeonpyeong Island shelling battle remembrance period and fosters a commemorative atmosphere and strengthens combat will through special spirit education for all units, viewing of Yeonpyeong Island shelling battle remembrance videos, operation of a cyber memorial hall, and northwestern island unit situation response training.