Immortal Light in Daejeon on West Sea Defense Day

Commemorating 55 West Sea Defense Warriors... Lights On for 55 Minutes Daily Over Three Days

On the 22nd of this month, marking the Day of Remembrance for the Warriors of the West Sea, the "Light of Immortality" will illuminate the sky over Daejeon in honor of the 55 warriors who defended the West Sea. The Day of Remembrance for the Warriors of the West Sea was designated in 2016 to commemorate the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Cheonan sinking, and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, and to reaffirm the commitment to protect the Northern Limit Line (NLL) of the West Sea. It is observed on the fourth Friday of March, the week when the Cheonan sinking incident occurred.

On the 19th, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced that from the 20th to the 22nd, lights will be lit at the National Daejeon Cemetery to remember and honor the 55 warriors who died in the three West Sea defense incidents: the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Cheonan sinking, and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling.

The Daejeon National Cemetery is the resting place of these warriors, and the lights will be turned on daily for 55 minutes starting at 8 p.m. over the three days. The "Light of Immortality" will feature 55 lights symbolizing the 55 warriors who sacrificed their lives while carrying out their mission to protect the West Sea, along with three large light pillars representing the three West Sea defense incidents, projecting upward into the sky.

On the 20th, a lighting ceremony will be held with the attendance of the warriors' bereaved families. The Second Battle of Yeonpyeong occurred on June 29, 2002, when two North Korean patrol boats crossed the NLL and launched a surprise attack on our patrol boat, Chamsuri 357, resulting in six deaths. The Cheonan sinking happened on March 26, 2010, southwest of Baengnyeongdo, caused by a North Korean torpedo attack. Forty-six people died, including Navy Lieutenant Han Joo-ho, who died during the search operation. The Yeonpyeong Island shelling took place on November 23, 2010, when North Korea launched a surprise artillery attack, resulting in two deaths. Five regional offices of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Daegu, and Gwangju are also holding events such as "Calling Back the 55 Heroes of the West Sea Defense."