Incheon City Elevates Next Year's Incheon Landing Operation Commemoration Event... Invites Leaders from 8 Participating Countries

Incheon City announced on the 12th that it plans to hold a large-scale international event for the 75th anniversary of the Incheon Landing Operation next September, inviting the heads of state, governors, mayors, and veterans from the eight countries that participated in the operation.

To this end, the city intends to actively prepare invitations for the heads of state from the eight countries involved in the landing operation, including South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.

In cooperation with diplomatic authorities, the city expects that if the invitations to the heads of state of major countries such as the United States are successful, the Incheon Landing Operation commemorative event will become an important opportunity to promote 'Incheon, the International City of Peace' to the world.

74th Anniversary of the Incheon Landing Operation Victory Ceremony. Provided by Incheon City

The city plans to prepare the event next year under the themes of memory and remembrance, harmony and peace, empathy, and the future.

First, to ensure that the national respect and gratitude for the veterans of the eight countries who dedicated themselves to the freedom of the Republic of Korea are passed on to future generations, a ceremony will be held to unveil the Incheon Landing Operation monument together with the heads of state from the eight countries during the commemorative event.

Additionally, the city will collect photos and voice recordings of the veterans and establish a data management system to preserve memories and pay tribute to their dedication.

The 'Incheon International Security Forum,' which will serve as a milestone for Incheon’s advancement as a city of world peace, will expand the number of sessions from about five to around ten by starting with keynote speeches from the heads of state of the eight participating countries, followed by leader sessions with governors (mayors) from the participating countries, and inviting renowned international scholars. The duration of the forum will also be extended from one day to two days.

Alongside this, more than 30 commemorative events held this year were conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Ministry of Unification, 10 military districts, and Incheon Tourism Organization, divided into viewing events and citizen participation events, aiming to broaden the consensus on 'harmony and peace.'

The Incheon Landing Operation, codenamed 'Chromite,' carried out on September 15, 1950, involved 261 vessels from eight countries including South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom, marking the largest amphibious operation since World War II. The allied forces attacked the flanks of the North Korean army and recaptured Seoul within 90 days, dramatically turning the tide of the Korean War.

An official from Incheon City stated, "It is not easy to invite the heads of state from the eight countries to next year’s Incheon Landing Operation commemorative event, but since it may be the last event attended by the elderly surviving veterans, we will do our utmost to provide national and international respect."