"Best Efforts to Ensure Proper Honors for Veterans and Their Descendants"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at a luncheon for descendants of independence activists held on the 14th at the State Guest House of the Blue House. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol invited about 100 descendants of independence activists to a luncheon at the Blue House State Guest House on the 14th, ahead of the 79th Liberation Day, and stated, "We will never forget the will of our ancestors who protected and developed the value of freedom, and we will devote all our efforts to building a free, peaceful, and prosperous Republic of Korea."
In his luncheon speech, President Yoon emphasized, "We were able to regain our country thanks to the sacrifices and dedication of the independence heroes who dreamed of a 'nation where the people are free,'" and added, "We will do our best to ensure that the spirit and legacy of independence left by the heroes are forever remembered, and that the merit recipients and their descendants receive proper respect."
The luncheon event was attended by various figures from different sectors and generations, including overseas descendants of independence activists visiting Korea for Liberation Day, scholarship recipients who are descendants of independence activists, specially invited guests who have made significant contributions to the nation and society, members of the Association of Bereaved Families of Patriotic Martyrs, and officials from independence-related commemorative organizations.
Among the specially invited guests was Heo Mimi, the fifth-generation descendant of the late independence activist Heo Seok and a silver medalist in judo representing Korea at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Heo, who held dual citizenship of Japan and Korea, renounced her Japanese citizenship in accordance with her grandmother’s last wish for her to become a Korean national athlete. Heo expressed her gratitude for President Yoon’s invitation during a speech as the representative of the attendees. Lee Jong-chan, chairman of the Liberation Association, a group of descendants of independence activists, did not attend the luncheon, demanding the withdrawal of the appointment of Kim Hyung-seok as director of the Independence Hall of Korea.
President Yoon personally introduced descendants of independence activists from the United States, China, and Kazakhstan, expressing his gratitude for their visit to their homeland. About 30 overseas descendants of independence activists, who are visiting Korea at the government's invitation for Liberation Day, are also scheduled to attend the Liberation Day celebration ceremony to be held tomorrow.
Yoon: "Descendants of Independence Activists Will Lead the Republic of Korea"
Heo Mimi, a judo medalist at the Paris Olympics, is smiling and conversing with attendees at a luncheon hosted by President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 14th at the Blue House State Guesthouse, inviting descendants of independence activists. Photo by Yonhap News
University students who are descendants of independence activists and receive scholarships from companies that have signed business agreements with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs also joined the luncheon. President Yoon encouraged them, saying, "As descendants of independence activist families, I expect you to lead the future of the Republic of Korea."
Also present were Kim Ho-yeon, chairman of Binggrae and grandson-in-law of independence activist Baekbeom Kim Gu; Shin Min-sik, chairman of the Social Contribution Committee of Jaseng Medical Foundation and son of independence activist Shin Gwang-yeol; Yoo Il-ling, director and granddaughter of independence activist and entrepreneur Yoo Il-han; and Lee Ok-bi, the only daughter of resistance poet Lee Yuk-sa, who was a prominent figure opposing Japanese colonial rule.
Descendants of distinguished patriotic families who have served the nation across generations also attended, including firefighter Gong Byung-sam, whose great-grandfather was an independence activist, grandfather a Korean War veteran, and father a Vietnam War veteran; Army Sergeant Shin Eun-jung, whose great-grandfather was an independence activist and grandfather a Vietnam War veteran; Police Sergeant Lee Dae-ho, whose maternal grandfather was an independence activist; and Air Force Warrant Officer Kim Min-seok, whose maternal grandfather was an independence activist and father a Korean War veteran.
Members of the Association of Bereaved Families of Patriotic Martyrs, including Chairman Lee Dong-il, also participated. The term "patriotic martyrs" refers to those who died before Liberation Day on August 15, 1945, and the Association is a corporation composed of their bereaved families.
Additionally, representatives of independence-related commemorative organizations attended, including Myung No-seung, chairman of the Maehun Yun Bong-gil Memorial Association; Kim Jae-sil, chairman of the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho Memorial Association; Lee Mi-ae, representative of the Baekchowol Monk Memorial Association; and Jeong Su-yong, chairman of the Lee Bong-chang Martyrs Memorial Association. Officials from the Presidential Office, including Shin Won-sik, director of the National Security Office, were also present.
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