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 Major 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 truly gives me great confidence. This is what a nation truly means."
On the afternoon of the 28th, President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the commissioning ceremony for Reserve Officers held at the Army Cadet Military School located in Goesan, Chungcheongbuk-do. He encouraged the officer candidates commissioning 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 start 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, third-generation military families, and descendants of Korean War veterans. In particular, he introduced Jo Si-eun, the daughter of the late Sergeant Major Jo Cheon-hyeong who died in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong and has become a Navy officer candidate, and briefly lost his words, his eyes moist with emotion.
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 mentors of the cadet corps who have guided the officer candidates on the path of national defense and strength, as well as the university presidents and related personnel."
Yoon: "North Korea’s Provocations Must Be Firmly Repelled"
This is the first time in 16 years that a sitting president has attended a Reserve Officer commissioning ceremony since former President Lee Myung-bak in 2008.
President Yoon encouraged, "Since the establishment of the cadet 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 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 Korea’s national 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 to legally institutionalize preemptive nuclear use and continues to engage in threats and provocations. Especially this year, ahead of elections which are the foundation of liberal democracy, there is a high possibility of various provocations and psychological warfare aimed at social chaos and national division." He emphasized that at times like this, our military must unite with the people and firmly repel North Korea’s provocations intended to shake the Republic of Korea.
President Yoon indicated that peace should not be based on false goodwill but on overwhelming capability and readiness, achieving 'peace through strength.' He suggested maintaining a strong posture so that North Korea dares not challenge Korea and that any provocations will be met with immediate and overwhelming response.
He also 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. Furthermore, he stated that security cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan, based on a strong Korea-US alliance, and solidarity with the international community will be further strengthened.
In particular, President Yoon said, "A firm security posture depends on the soldiers’ strong sense of national identity and enemy perception," noting that the will to protect 'liberal democracy,' a core value of our constitution, is the starting point of security.
He added 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, outstanding university students and future generations will proudly choose the path of officer candidates. He awarded the Presidential Award to Second Lieutenants Han Jeong-ho (Army, Hallym University), Oh Ji-yoon (Navy, Pukyong National University), and Noh Gyun-ho (Air Force, Korea National University of Transportation), who completed the officer candidate course with top grades, encouraging them.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with newly commissioned second lieutenants after 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]
After the commissioning ceremony, President Yoon held a meeting with the commissioned officers and their families, officer candidates, university presidents, cadet corps commanders, and executives of the ROTC Central Association to listen to various opinions regarding the development of officer candidate education and improvement of junior officer service conditions.
In his remarks at the meeting, President Yoon said, "Young officers who demonstrate leadership at the forefront of national defense are key assets for national security," and pledged, "I will spare no effort to ensure you can serve with strength."
Jo Si-eun: "My Father Died When I Was 100 Days Old. I Will Become a Great Navy Officer Following Him"
During the subsequent conversation, President Yoon listened to stories from new officers and their families from diverse backgrounds. Jo Si-eun, the officer candidate and daughter of Sergeant Major Jo who died in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, said, "My father passed away when I was 100 days old. I will become a great navy officer following in his footsteps." President Yoon responded, "I briefly lost my words because I wondered if Si-eun lost her father even before birth. It is admirable how she has grown up so well without her father. Although she is not here today, I also applaud her mother," encouraging her.
Concluding the meeting, President Yoon emphasized, "We will carefully support the new officers so they can adapt well to their duties and live without worries," and stressed, "We will actively support making the officer candidate program more popular among young people."
Attending the meeting were Lt. General Lee Tae-hee, Commander of the Konyang University Cadet Corps, Myongji University President Yoo Byung-jin, and other generals and university presidents who are ROTC alumni. Regional attendees included Kim Young-hwan, Governor of Chungbuk Province, and Song In-heon, Mayor of Goesan County. From the government, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, military university presidents, Jang Ho-jin, Director of the National Security Office, In Sung-hwan, Deputy Director of the National Security Office, and Choi Byung-ok, Defense Secretary, were present.
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