Chungcheongnam-do Provincial Assembly Moves to Attract National Memorial Cemetery: "Chungnam Must Correct Its Status as the Only Province Without One"

Parliamentary Debate Held in Buyeo
"Three Hours One Way, Significant Burden for Elderly Bereaved Families"
Consensus Reached on the Need to Attract the Cemetery

The National Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do hosted a parliamentary debate to attract the National Memorial Cemetery to Chungnam, held at the main auditorium of the Buyeo County Agricultural Technology Center, with about 400 local residents in attendance. Photo by Chungcheongnam-do National Assembly

The Chungcheongnam-do Provincial Assembly has launched a public discussion to attract the National Memorial Cemetery to Chungnam.

On July 14, the Provincial Assembly held a parliamentary debate under the theme "Establishing Strategies and Practical Measures to Attract the National Memorial Cemetery to Chungnam" at the main auditorium of the Buyeo County Agricultural Technology Center.

This debate was chaired by Provincial Assembly member Kim Minsoo (Proportional Representation, Democratic Party of Korea), with Oh Jeonga, a research fellow at the Chungnam Social Service Institute, delivering the keynote presentation.

The panelists included Song Gilun, head of the Chungnam branch of the Vietnam War Veterans Association; Kim Yangjung, senior research fellow at the Chungnam Research Institute; Jeong Myeongok, head of the Welfare and Veterans Policy Division of Chungcheongnam-do; and Yoo Insun, head of the Social Welfare Division of Buyeo County. They engaged in an in-depth discussion on the necessity and implementation strategies for attracting the cemetery.

Research fellow Oh Jeonga pointed out, "Residents of the west coast area of Chungnam currently spend more than three hours one way to reach the nearest National Memorial Cemetery, causing significant and ongoing inconvenience for elderly bereaved families," and added, "The demand for establishing a National Memorial Cemetery within the region is steadily increasing."

The National Memorial Cemetery is evolving beyond a simple burial facility to serve as an educational and commemorative space that passes on national identity, history, and the spirit of national defense to future generations.

Assembly member Kim Minsoo stated, "Among the eight provinces, excluding special and metropolitan cities, Chungnam is the only one without a National Memorial Cemetery," and emphasized, "This debate marks a meaningful starting point for developing a concrete blueprint to attract the cemetery to Chungnam."

He further declared, "The Provincial Assembly will focus all its efforts to ensure that national merit recipients and their families receive the respect they deserve."

With this parliamentary debate as a catalyst, discussions on attracting the National Memorial Cemetery to Chungnam are expected to gain further momentum.