President Yoon Attends First West Sea Defense Day Ceremony Since Inauguration
"A Nation Cannot Be Called One Without Honoring Those Who Sacrificed and Served"
President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 24th, "We will forever remember the 55 heroes who valiantly sacrificed their lives in response to North Korea's armed provocations." Marking his first West Sea Defense Day since taking office, President Yoon effectively sent the message that 'the Cheonan sinking was the work of North Korea,' clearly affirming that the fallen and surviving soldiers of the Cheonan incident are victims and promising that the state will provide them with due honors.
On the morning of the same day, President Yoon attended the 8th West Sea Defense Day commemorative ceremony held at the National Daejeon National Cemetery, saying, "The reason our people can live their daily lives with peace of mind amid the standoff between South and North Korea is because the soldiers who defended the West Sea with their lives were there."
President Yoon Suk-yeol is calling out the names of the 55 warriors who defended the West Sea at the 8th West Sea Defense Day ceremony held on the 24th at the National Daejeon National Cemetery in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. [Photo by Yonhap News]
In particular, President Yoon emphasized "North Korea's armed provocations" while mentioning the Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Battle of Daecheong, and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling. Voices warning against North Korea's continuous provocations were also raised. President Yoon said, "In response to North Korea's nuclear and missile advancements and provocations, we will drastically strengthen the Korea-type 3-axis system and further solidify security cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan," adding, "North Korea's reckless provocations will surely be met with consequences."
The commemorative ceremony was also conducted differently from the past, with the highest honors given to the families of the West Sea defenders and the veterans for their sacrifices and dedication. At the ceremony, President Yoon, for the first time as a sitting president, honored the heroic deeds of the soldiers who defended freedom against North Korean provocations by personally calling out the names of the 55 warriors one by one in a 'roll-call.'
Furthermore, representatives of the 55 bereaved families and veterans were seated in prominent seats, and President Yoon was seated alongside them during the wreath-laying and incense-offering. Before the ceremony, President Yoon visited the memorial sites of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, the Cheonan incident, and the grave of the late Lieutenant Han Joo-ho, paying respects and offering consolation together with bereaved families and veterans. Present at the site were Im Heon-soon, mother of the late Sergeant Major Jo Cheon-hyeong (Second Battle of Yeonpyeong); Kim O-bok, mother of the late Corporal Seo Jeong-woo (Yeonpyeong Island shelling); Yoon Cheong-ja, mother of the late Sergeant Major Min Pyeong-gi (Cheonan incident); Jung Joo-han, son of the late Sergeant Major Jeong Jong-ryul (Cheonan incident); as well as Kim Mal-soon, spouse of the late Lieutenant Han Joo-ho, and former Cheonan ship captain Choi Won-il.
Additionally, through a large-scale military honor guard parade involving 130 personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the state expressed its respect for those who sacrificed for the country and demonstrated its commitment to take full responsibility for the heroes. President Yoon stated, "If we do not remember and honor those who sacrificed and dedicated themselves for the country, we cannot call it a nation."
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