First Visit by a Sitting President
"Thank You for Your Dedication to the Nation"
President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the Veterans Nursing Home in Jangan-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 21st and greeted the veterans and elderly family members of the wounded and fallen soldiers who participated in the "Making Love for the Country Frame" experience program. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the morning of the 21st, President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the Suwon Veterans Nursing Home to pay respects to elderly national veterans in honor of the Month of Patriots and Veterans, expressing gratitude for their dedication and sacrifice to the nation.
This marks the first time a sitting president has visited a veterans nursing home as a solo schedule.
President Yoon first visited the rehabilitation therapy room to observe physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological stabilization therapy used by elderly national veterans. He then moved to the nursing building, inquiring about the residents' opinions on life at the nursing home and checking on their well-being.
At the physical therapy room, an elderly resident receiving infrared therapy saw President Yoon and said, "Oh my, how did you come all the way here... nice to see you," attempting to get up from the bed. President Yoon responded, "Please stay lying down, sir. Receive your physical therapy well," while firmly holding the resident's hand.
In the occupational therapy room, President Yoon listened to explanations from staff about cognitive training programs using audiovisual tools such as driving games, quizzes, and picture matching, and observed the elderly residents' therapy activities.
At this occasion, President Yoon presented the 'Hero's Uniform' to four elderly veterans of the Korean War, expressing gratitude for their dedication to the nation. The Hero's Uniform is a clothing-type commemorative item prepared by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration to symbolize the nation's and people's commitment to remembering the sacrifices and dedication of war heroes and to provide them with the highest honor.
President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the Veterans Nursing Home in Jangan-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 21st and presented a 'Hero's Uniform' to a national merit recipient. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon presented the uniform to Mr. Lee Jin-yong (87), a Korean War veteran, saying, "This is the Korean War veteran uniform we prepared last year," buttoning up the jacket and pinning the 'Nara Sarang Keun Namu Badge' on his chest. The presidential office stated that President Yoon expressed sincere gratitude for his dedication to the country by saying, "Thank you. We will take good care of you."
He also gifted uniforms to three other veterans, saying, "Please try it on when you are comfortable later," and wished them good health by saying, "Stay healthy. We will take good care of you."
Following this, President Yoon visited the program room and participated in a 'Making Love for the Nation Picture Frame' activity with 12 elderly veterans and bereaved families of war casualties. President Yoon wrote the phrase "We will remember the heroes" on a paper frame, emphasizing respect and honor for the heroes who sacrificed for the country once again, according to a written briefing by presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung.
As the picture frame making activity was concluding, the elderly residents each handed their frames to President Yoon, requesting his autograph. President Yoon responded to each autograph request warmly. When one elderly resident apologized, asking, "Isn't it tiring to sign all of these?" President Yoon smiled brightly and said, "Not at all. Anytime."
Meanwhile, the Suwon Veterans Nursing Home, opened in 2008, is the first veterans nursing home established by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (currently the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans). It provides elderly care services to about 200 national veterans and their bereaved families.
Attending the event were Kang Jung-ae, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, and others from the government, as well as Jeon Gwang-sam, Senior Secretary for Civil Society, and others from the presidential office.
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