8th West Sea Defense Day Ceremony Held on the 24th
Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, Cheonan Ship Sinking, Yeonpyeong Island Bombardment
Photo from the Yeonpyeong Naval Battle. [Photo by Asia Economy DB]
On June 29, 2002, when the entire nation was buzzing with World Cup fever, the Navy patrol boat Chamsuri 357 was engulfed in flames after a surprise artillery attack by a North Korean vessel.
While the public was filled with anticipation, talking about the miracle of reaching the semifinals, the Chamsuri was soaked in the blood of its soldiers.
That day marked the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, where six lives were lost.
Cheonan ship salvaged from the sea. [Photo by Asia Economy DB]
In the dead of night on March 26, 2010, the Navy PCC-777 Cheonan, on a quiet patrol mission, exploded with a loud blast due to a North Korean torpedo attack.
The ship, which had also played a role in the First Battle of Yeonpyeong, was instantly crippled and sank into the waters near Baengnyeongdo along with the crew on board.
The ship, split into bow and stern, was salvaged, but 46 lives could not be saved.
A lone hero who repeatedly braved the cold sea to save even one more person also became a star in the sky.
Yeonpyeong Island shelling incident site. [Photo by Ongjin-gun, Incheon]
On November 23 of the same year, Daeyeonpyeongdo in Ongjin County, Incheon, turned into a scene of chaos with the sound of shells fired by North Korean forces and the screams of residents.
The entire military was put on alert, and thick smoke and flames rose everywhere as if the war of 1950 was repeating.
Under the armistice agreement made after the Korean War, this was the first large-scale military attack targeting civilians, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and two civilians.
At the 8th West Sea Defense Day ceremony held at the Gyeongnam Veterans Hall, Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, pays tribute to the spirits of the patriotic martyrs and fallen soldiers. [Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]
The fourth Friday of March every year is ‘West Sea Defense Day,’ a day to honor the spirit of sacrifice of the warriors who gave their lives defending the western seas of the Republic of Korea against North Korean provocations and to reflect on the importance of national security.
Gyeongnam Province held the 8th West Sea Defense Day commemorative ceremony on the 24th to mourn the 55 warriors who sacrificed their lives during the West Sea defense missions, including the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Cheonan sinking incident, and the Yeonpyeong shelling, and to honor the contributions of the veterans.
The ceremony was attended by about 200 people, including Governor Park Wan-su, Kim Jong-sul, head of the Gyeongnam Eastern Veterans Affairs Office, Park Nam-yong, member of the Provincial Council’s Culture and Welfare Committee, heads and members of veterans and security organizations in the province, and students.
Held under the theme “Freedom Protected by Devotion, Remembering the Heroes of the Republic of Korea,” this year’s ceremony proceeded with the national anthem, a moment of silence for the fallen patriots, national heroes, and West Sea defense victims, commemorative speeches, recitation of memorial poems, and reading of a resolution.
Choi Seung-bin and Lee Se-min, third-year students at Changwon Technical High School, alma mater of the late Sergeants Jo Jeong-gyu and Park Seong-gyun, recited the memorial poem “Souls Become Stars” by writer Yoo Yeon-sook.
Governor Park said, “Our current daily life and happiness are thanks to the noble spirit of sacrifice of the West Sea defense warriors and national heroes who protected the country at the risk of their lives,” adding, “Gyeongnam Province will widely promote the dedication of these national heroes who gave their lives for the country and strengthen security awareness.”
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