Yoon: "Government Will Make Every Effort to Recover the Remains of 120,000 War Dead from the 6.25 War"

President Yoon Attends the 68th Memorial Day Ceremony
Honoring Uniformed Heroes and Remembering as a Constitutional Duty
Vows to Build Ironclad Security Posture Based on the ROK-US Alliance
Witnesses the Burial of the Late Private Kim Seonghak's Remains

President Yoon Suk-yeol promised on the 6th that the government will do its utmost until the remains of soldiers who died in the Korean War can be returned to their families.

In his commemorative speech at the 68th Memorial Day ceremony held at the National Seoul National Cemetery that morning, President Yoon stated, "There are still many remains of fallen soldiers of the Republic of Korea Army that have not returned to their families. Although 160,000 of our soldiers died defending the Republic of Korea, the remains of 120,000 have not been found."

At the ceremony, President Yoon wore the '121879 Taegeukgi Badge,' created to remember the 121,879 soldiers who died in the Korean War whose remains have yet to be recovered.

First, President Yoon said, "Here at the National Seoul National Cemetery, over 191,000 people who made noble sacrifices for the nation and its people rest in peace. I bow my head in respect and pray for the souls of the ancestors who made sacred sacrifices for the country. I also offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved families who have endured difficult times after losing their beloved family members."

He continued, "I also express my gratitude to the soldiers of the United Nations, including the United States, who shed blood together to protect the freedom of the Republic of Korea from communist aggression, as well as to the overseas dispatched soldiers who answered the nation's call and dedicated themselves to safeguarding global freedom and peace."

Before the Memorial Day ceremony, President Yoon shared an anecdote in his speech about attending the enshrinement ceremony of the remains of the late Private Kim Bong-hak, who died in the 'Bloody Ridge' battle in Yanggu County, Gangwon Province, in September 1951.

The Bloody Ridge battle was fought in September 1951, where the 5th Division of the Republic of Korea Army and the 2nd Division of the U.S. Army joined forces to repel the 2nd Division of the North Korean Army. At that time, U.S. war correspondents named the ridge "Bloody Ridge" due to the bloodstains on the ridge.

Private Kim Bong-hak was buried together with his younger brother, the late Private Kim Seong-hak, who died in the defense battle of Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, in December 1950. This is the third 'Patriotic Brothers' burial site at the National Seoul National Cemetery.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon said, "As if to reveal the intense battle situation at that time, the remains of the deceased were excavated three times from separate locations between 2011 and 2016. The identity of the remains was confirmed in February this year, and today they were enshrined together with the grave of his younger brother, the late Private Kim Seong-hak, who died in the Chuncheon area battle. The two brothers have been reunited through their remains 73 years after participating in the Korean War to protect the freedom of their homeland."

He also pledged to continue efforts to enshrine the remains of fallen soldiers and independence activists. President Yoon emphasized, "The government will make every effort until the patriotic heroes can return to their families. We will also continue efforts to bring back the remains of ancestors who died while fighting for independence abroad."

He promised to establish a firm security posture in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. President Yoon stressed, "Our government and military will build an ironclad security posture based on the strongest-ever ROK-U.S. alliance to protect the lives and safety of our people."

He mentioned that it is the constitutional duty of the government to honor and remember the so-called uniformed heroes, including soldiers, police officers, and firefighters, who sacrificed for the country.

President Yoon referred to the patriots who devoted themselves to independence and nation-building for a liberal democratic country and the soldiers who stood against communist forces, stating, "The dignity of a nation depends on whom and how the nation remembers." He added, "Yesterday, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs was elevated to the status of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans. We will better care for and honor the heroes of the Republic of Korea."

He continued, "On March 6, Firefighter Success Il Seong, a firefighter at Gimje Fire Station, tragically died in the line of duty at a fire scene. He was a 30-year-old young man who had been a firefighter for only 10 months and rushed into the flames upon hearing urgent cries that someone was inside the house." He said, "The reason we can enjoy safe daily lives even at this moment is because of uniformed heroes like Firefighter Success Il Seong, who put the nation and the people before their own safety."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He added, "It is the nation's duty to remember and honor the uniformed heroes?soldiers, police officers, firefighters?who risked everything to protect the country's security and the safety of its people. The government will ensure that uniformed heroes and their families do not lose courage and maintain their pride," reiterating his commitment.

Furthermore, he said, "Properly remembering and honoring those who built and defended a liberal democratic country and those who sacrificed for the safety of the nation's owners?the people?is a practical command of our liberal democratic constitution. As president, I bear the constitutional duty to protect the nation's independence, territorial integrity, and continuity. I will do my best to fulfill this constitutional duty."

He also urged the public, saying, "For all of us to remember and honor the dedication and sacrifice of heroes confirms that we are all owners and sovereigns of the country," asking them to remember the heroes.

Earlier, President Yoon and his wife entered the ceremony together with the bereaved families of the Korean War fallen soldiers and uniformed heroes from the military, police, coast guard, and fire services. The presidential office explained that this was a demonstration of the government's intention to honor the families of heroes who dedicated themselves to the nation as the highest priority.

President Yoon also personally presented certificates of national merit to five individuals, including Park Hyun-min, a reserve sergeant and survivor of the Cheonan ship incident, expressing gratitude for their dedication to the country.

[Image source=Yonhap News]