By Reporter Kayla lee 

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee held a luncheon at the Cheong Wa Dae official residence for 190 national meritorious and veteran families on June 14.

The luncheon was attended by more than 170 officers and members of 18 veterans’ organizations, including the Korean War Veterans Association, the Korean War Veterans Association, and the Korean War Veterans Widows Association, as well as 20 special invitees. 

Special invitees included Navy Colonel Lee Hee-wan from the Second Yeonpyeong Naval Battle, Reservist Lee Hae-young, Chairman Seo Young-seok (father of the late Sergeant Seo Hu-won), Mr. Yoon Young-min (brother of the late Major Yoon Young-ha), Captain Choi Won-il from the Cheonan ship attack, Reservist Jeon Jun-young, Chairman Lee Sung-woo (father of the late Sergeant Lee Sang-hee), Ms. Yoon Cheong-ja (mother of the late Sergeant Min Pyeong-ki), and Reservist Choi Joo-ho from the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, Ms. Kim Oh-bok (mother of the late Sergeant Seo Jeong-woo), a representative of the bereaved families and soldiers of the West Sea Guard, Mr. Sung Yong-mook, the father of the late Success Il Firefighter who was martyred during a life-saving operation in March. And Mr. Lee Jong-hyuk, a professor at Kwangwoon University's School of Media and Communication, who designed the "121879 Taegeukgi Badge" and launched a national campaign to remember Korean heroes, was also invited to join the event.

 In addition to Mr. Choi Min-seok and Ms. Choi Hyun-jung, the son and granddaughter of the late Jongno Police Chief Choi Kyu-sik, who was killed while thwarting an assault on the presidential palace by North Korean armed guards during the 1968 January 21 incident, Navy Colonel Ahn Ji-young (then commander of the Chamsuri No. 325) and Navy Colonel Heo Wook (then commander of the Chamsuri No. 357), the protagonists of the First Yeonpyeong Naval Battle, which resulted in a major victory in the first naval engagement between the two Koreas after the June 15, 1999 armistice, were also invited for the first time ever at a government luncheon, making the event even more meaningful. 

On June 6, President Yoon became the first president in 42 years to visit the Cemetery of the Fallen of Counterintelligence Operations after the 68th Memorial Day Ceremony.

 Before the luncheon, the President personally dressed three members of the Korean War Veterans Association, Chairman Son Hee-won, Director Lee Ha-young, and Director Kim Chang-seok, in hero's uniforms. He also presented them with the '121879 Taegeukgi Badge' as a symbol of their dedication to the nation, paying tribute to these heroes who devoted themselves to their country.

A luncheon followed in a relaxed atmosphere. The President expressed his respect and gratitude for the sacrifices and dedication of the attendees through his luncheon speech, and the attendees responded with gratitude for the President's invitation by presenting their impressions.