Yoon Hosts Luncheon for National Merit Recipients: "Nation Must Foster a Culture of Gratitude"

6.25 War and Yeonpyeong Naval Battle Veterans Invited
Yoon: "Honoring Heroes and Bereaved Families Is the Nation's Proper Duty"
"Not Only the Government but All Citizens Must Remember the Heroes"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is entering the State Guest House at Cheong Wa Dae on the 6th for a luncheon hosted for national merit recipients and their families. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol held a luncheon on the 6th to commemorate Memorial Day, inviting 160 national veterans and their families, and stated, "Not only the state and government but all our citizens must cultivate a culture of remembering and appreciating our heroes."

At the luncheon held at the Blue House State Guest House, President Yoon said, "Our society must repay national veterans and their families with the highest respect."

President Yoon added, "Remembering and honoring the heroes who dedicated themselves to the nation and their families is a rightful duty of the state and essential to preserving our identity," and said, "We must always reflect on and never forget how we have remained so resilient and prosperous, and how our country has developed so much."

He continued, "The government elevated the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to a full ministry on June 5 last year," emphasizing, "we are putting great effort into spreading a culture of respect for national veterans and uniformed service personnel."

President Yoon also said, "We will not forget the hard work of uniformed personnel in the military, police, and fire services who protect the lives and safety of the people to ensure a safe daily life," adding, "You who put the nation and the people first are the true heroes."

The invited national veterans and their families entered the State Guest House amid the formation of the Republic of Korea Honor Guard and the performance of the military band. President Yoon arrived early to personally welcome and honor them. Napkins were inscribed with the phrase, 'We remember your sacrifice in protecting the Republic of Korea,' along with the names of the attendees.

The luncheon was attended by executives and members of 19 veterans organizations, including the Korea Veterans Association, the Korea War Veterans Association, and the Korea War Widows Association, as well as specially invited guests.

Special invitees included veterans Park Dong-gun and Park Cha-saeng, who served as student soldiers during the Korean War, and Jeon Chun-ja, the niece of the late Sergeant Jeon Byung-seop, whose remains were excavated last December. In the case of Sergeant Jeon Byung-seop, all three brothers served in the Korean War. The eldest brother, Sergeant Jeon Byung-seop, and the youngest brother, the late Second Lieutenant Jeon Byung-hwa, were killed in action, while the middle brother, the late First Sergeant Jeon Byung-cheol, who was Jeon Chun-ja’s father, was the only one to return alive.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is giving a greeting speech at the luncheon for national merit recipients and veterans' families held at the Blue House's Yeongbingwan on the 6th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Warrant Officer Hwang Chang-gyu, a veteran of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, and Lieutenant Jeong Gyeong-sik, who participated in the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, also attended the luncheon as representatives of the West Sea defense soldiers. Additionally, the father of the late Private Jeon Sae-han, who died in the line of duty during military service, and the families of the late Sergeant Jang Yong-hoon and the late Fire Lieutenant Heo Seung-min, who died while performing missions to save citizens’ lives, were also present.

President Yoon expressed his gratitude by directly mentioning them.

He said, "Veterans Park Dong-gun and Park Cha-saeng gave up their studies at a young age and enlisted as student soldiers when the Korean War broke out, defending our freedom," adding, "Ms. Jeon Chun-ja, your father and his two brothers all served in the Korean War, and your uncle and great-uncle died in action without leaving behind families."

Earlier that morning, President Yoon attended the 69th Memorial Day ceremony held at the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, and paid respects at the Unknown Student Soldier Monument. The remains of 48 soldiers who died in the Battle of Pohang in August 1950 are interred there.

President Yoon said, "Thinking of the student soldiers who, at a young age, took up guns and grenades instead of books and pencils to defend the country and died heroically fills me with a profound sense of responsibility," adding, "We must never forget that the free Republic of Korea exists today because of those who gave their precious youth to the nation without names or service numbers."