Since 2018, Presented by the President...
This Year, Delegated to the Minister
On November 19, the South Korean military held a Samjeong Sword presentation ceremony for brigadier general selectees and those recently promoted to brigadier general.
The Ministry of National Defense announced that Minister Ahn Kyubaek presented the Samjeong Sword to a total of 89 individuals at the Defense Convention Center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, including those scheduled for promotion to brigadier general and those promoted to brigadier general since June 1 of this year. Since 2018, the President has personally presented the Samjeong Sword to new brigadier generals, but this time, Minister Ahn performed the ceremony. This marks the first time that a civilian minister, rather than a military officer, has presented the Samjeong Sword.
During the ceremony, Minister Ahn congratulated the promotees and their families, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling the military’s constitutional duty as the armed forces of the people. He urged them, as commanders of their respective units, to take the lead in restoring the honor and trust of the military.
This year’s recipients include those who were selected for promotion last year but have not yet received their official promotion orders and thus hold the rank of brigadier general (designate), as well as those selected for promotion in 2023-2024 who were officially promoted to brigadier general after June 1 of this year.
The Samjeong Sword, one of the President’s official gifts, has been awarded to heads of key departments holding presidentially appointed positions since 1983 to foster loyalty and a sense of duty to the nation and its people. Since 1987, it has been presented to generals promoted to brigadier general, and it is crafted in the style of the traditional Korean sword, the Saingeom.
The sword symbolizes the three spirits of National Defense, Unification, and Prosperity. It bears the President’s signature and is inscribed with the phrase “If you are determined to die, you will live; if you are determined to live, you will die,” which Admiral Yi Sun-sin reportedly addressed to his soldiers on the eve of the Battle of Myeongnyang.
Until 2017, the Samjeong Sword was presented by the Minister of National Defense to new brigadier generals. Since 2018, the President has presided over the ceremony, which has been held once annually at the beginning of the year. However, the ceremony scheduled for early this year was postponed due to the December 3 Martial Law. At one point, an official notice was issued instructing the recipients to collect their swords from the underground parking lot of the Defense Convention Center, but this was canceled after controversy arose.
The Ministry of National Defense explained that, considering the President’s overseas schedule and the need to boost military morale, the minister was delegated to present the Samjeong Sword this year only. A ministry official stated, “Due to the President’s overseas trips, it was not possible for him to personally present the swords. Given that the recipients have already waited over ten months, and in consideration of their honor and the need to boost morale, it was decided that the Minister of National Defense would present the swords this year without further delay.”
Meanwhile, about 20 of the recipients were unable to attend the ceremony. A ministry official said, “There are various circumstances that make it difficult to present the Samjeong Sword to some individuals at this time, and some cases require additional verification. Depending on the situation, the swords may be presented separately to those whose awards were postponed.”
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