Current President Attends Commissioning Ceremony After 16 Years
"North Korea May Conduct Various Provocations Before General Election"
President Yoon Suk-yeol receives a salute from newly commissioned second lieutenants at the 2024 Reserve Officer Training Corps commissioning ceremony held on the 28th at the Army Cadet Military School in Goesan-gun, Chungbuk. [Photo by Yonhap News]
"Jo Si-eun, the daughter of the late Sergeant Jo Cheon-hyeong who died in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, has become an Officer Candidate. Seeing all of you who will protect the Republic of Korea and our people from your respective positions makes me truly reassured. This is what a nation truly means."
On the afternoon of the 28th, President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the commissioning ceremony for Officer Candidates held at the Army Cadet Military Academy located in Goesan, Chungcheongbuk-do. He encouraged the Officer Candidates being commissioned as officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, urging them to stand tall as a military trusted by the people.
At the beginning of his congratulatory speech, President Yoon introduced the backgrounds of the Officer Candidates attending the ceremony, including those who renounced foreign citizenship to choose the military, three-generation military families, and descendants of veterans who participated in the Korean War. In particular, when introducing Jo Si-eun, the daughter of the late Sergeant Jo Cheon-hyeong who died in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, President Yoon momentarily lost his words and his eyes welled up with tears.
After regaining his composure, President Yoon said, "I deeply thank the families who have supported the new Officer Candidates to dedicate themselves to the homeland, the instructors and disciplinarians of the Officer Candidate Corps who have guided them on the path of patriotic strength, and the university presidents and related personnel."
This is the first time in 16 years since former President Lee Myung-bak in 2008 that a sitting president has attended an Officer Candidate commissioning ceremony.
President Yoon encouraged, "Since the establishment of the Officer Candidate Corps in 1959, a total of 230,000 Officer Candidates have devoted themselves to national defense across the front and rear lines, becoming the foundation of the Republic of Korea's protection. You are the future of our military and the future of the Republic of Korea."
He continued, "Our military has steadfastly defended national security and liberal democracy against North Korea's relentless threats and provocations for over 70 years," expressing gratitude to the soldiers who are firmly guarding the land, sky, and sea at this very moment and promoting the nation's prestige in overseas deployments.
President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a congratulatory speech at the 2024 Reserve Officer Training Corps commissioning ceremony held on the 28th at the Army Cadet Military School in Goesan-gun, Chungbuk. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon stated, "North Korea is the only country in the world that has legalized the preemptive use of nuclear weapons and continues to engage in threats and provocations." He added, "Especially with elections, the foundation of liberal democracy, approaching this year, there is a high possibility of various provocations and psychological warfare aimed at social unrest and national division." He emphasized that at times like these, our military must unite with the people and firmly repel North Korea's attempts to shake the Republic of Korea.
President Yoon stressed that we must achieve 'peace through strength' based not on false peace relying on the opponent's goodwill but on overwhelming capability and readiness. He indicated that a strong posture will be maintained so that North Korea dares not threaten the Republic of Korea, and that any provocations will be met with immediate and overwhelming responses.
Furthermore, he pledged to complete the Korea-US integrated nuclear extended deterrence through the Nuclear Consultative Group and accelerate the establishment of Korea's three-axis system to fundamentally block North Korea's nuclear threat attempts. Alongside this, he announced plans to further strengthen security cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan based on a strong Korea-US alliance and to enhance solidarity with the international community.
In particular, President Yoon said, "A firm security posture depends on the soldiers' strong sense of national identity and perspective on the enemy," emphasizing that the will to protect 'liberal democracy,' a core value of our Constitution, is the starting point of security.
He went on to say that he will spare no support so that the new officers can proudly wear their uniforms and rank insignia and focus solely on their duties. Through this, he will firmly support excellent university students and future generations to proudly choose the path of Officer Candidates. He awarded the Presidential Award to Second Lieutenant Han Jeong-ho (Army, Hallym University), Second Lieutenant Oh Ji-yoon (Navy, Pukyong National University), and Second Lieutenant Noh Gyun-ho (Air Force, Korea National University of Transportation), who completed the Officer Candidate course with the highest honors, encouraging them.
Meanwhile, after the commissioning ceremony, President Yoon held a meeting with commissioned officers and their families, Officer Candidates, university presidents, Officer Candidate Corps commanders, and executives of the ROTC Central Association to listen to various opinions related to the development of Officer Candidate education and improvement of junior officer service conditions.
The event was attended by key government and National Assembly figures, senior military officials, executives of the ROTC Central Association, university presidents, and Officer Candidates from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. From the Presidential Office, National Security Office Director Jang Ho-jin, Deputy Director In Seong-hwan, and Defense Secretary Choi Byung-ok were present.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with newly commissioned second lieutenants after the 2024 Reserve Officer Commissioning Ceremony held on the 28th at the Army Cadet Military School in Goesan-gun, Chungbuk. [Image source=Yonhap News]
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