This Week's West Sea Defense Warriors Lighting Ceremony

Yeonpyeong Naval Battle, Cheonan Ship Sinking Incident, Yeonpyeong Island Bombardment, etc.
Symbolic Lighting for 55 Warriors to be Lit at War Memorial from the 22nd

On the occasion of the 8th West Sea Defense Day, the "Immortal Light" honoring the "55 Warriors of West Sea Defense" will be lit in the Seoul sky.

On the 21st, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced that from the 22nd to the 24th, lights will be turned on at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, to remember and commemorate the 55 warriors who died in the three West Sea defense incidents: the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Cheonan sinking incident, and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling.

The lights will be turned on daily for 55 minutes starting at 8 p.m. at the center of the War Memorial plaza for three days. The "Immortal Light" will project 55 lights symbolizing the 55 warriors who sacrificed their lives while performing their mission to defend the West Sea, along with three large light pillars representing the three West Sea defense incidents, shining toward the sky.

Last year, the lights were lit at the National Daejeon Cemetery where the 55 warriors of West Sea Defense rest, and this year, to enhance the memorial atmosphere, the event was moved to Seoul. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs plans to hold the 8th West Sea Defense Day ceremony at the National Daejeon Cemetery on the 24th and to make the lighting of the Immortal Light an annual event for West Sea Defense Day.

Park Min-sik, head of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, said, "The noble sacrifice and patriotism of the 55 heroes of West Sea Defense for the country are a precious legacy left to all of us," adding, "We will realize world-class veterans affairs that take full responsibility for the heroes who completed their missions until the last moment and their bereaved families."

West Sea Defense Day was designated in 2016 as the fourth Friday of March to remember the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Cheonan sinking, and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, and to reaffirm the will to defend the Northern Limit Line (NLL) of the West Sea. The fourth Friday of March is the day when the Cheonan sinking occurred in 2010. The Second Battle of Yeonpyeong occurred on June 29, 2002, at 9:54 a.m. when two North Korean patrol boats crossed the NLL and launched a surprise attack on our patrol boat, Chamsuri 357, at 10:25 a.m., resulting in six deaths.

The Cheonan sinking occurred on March 26, 2010, at 9:22 p.m. southwest of Baengnyeongdo due to a North Korean torpedo attack. Forty-six people died, and Navy Lieutenant Han Joo-ho died during a search operation. The Yeonpyeong Island shelling occurred on November 23, 2010, at 2:34 p.m. due to a surprise North Korean multiple rocket launcher attack, with fighting continuing until 3:41 p.m. Two people died in the battle.