By Ko Seul-ji, Army Officer Candidate of the Department of Military Science, Dongshin University In 1910, after stripping us of our sovereignty, Japan installed the Japanese Government-General of Korea and suppressed our people. In the sweltering heat of August 2023, most college students spend their vacations traveling or self-developing, but as a military officer candidate, I spent four weeks completing summer combat leader training. Before the training, I honestly wanted to play more and spend more time with my friends and family, but after this summer training, I learned and gained a lot,
By Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee paid a surprise visit to a multi-child family invitation event held at the fountain in the Yongsan Children's Garden on Aug. 26. Children playing in the fountain gathered around the presidential couple to greet them as they arrived. Dressed in matching Cheonan naval patrol ship, the presidential couple took commemorative photos with each child, asking how old they were and whether they enjoyed playing in the water. At the fountain, the children had fun playing games such as spinning hula hoops, imitating idol dances, and flip
By Kim Ji-eun In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Peru and Korea, the Peruvian training ship BAP "Union" will visit Korea from Sept. 10 to 14 as part of its first world voyage. During the same period, the Union ship will dock at the "Busan International Cruise Terminal." The BAP Union, a symbolic vessel of the Peruvian Navy, aims to train marine cadets who will later become naval officers in Peru. To this end, the Union ship sails for 10 months and as Peru's mobile embassy, it visits major ports of Peru’s partners and friendly countries. This year marks Per
By Lee Kap-soo President Yoon Suk-yeol said, "We need to continue our sound fiscal stance to safeguard external confidence and ensure price stability." Presiding over a cabinet meeting on Aug. 29, Yoon said, "The total expenditure for next year is 656.9 trillion won, the lowest increase of 2.8 percent since 2005. We have resolutely rejected the 'fiscal universalism' that the previous government was hooked on, and have firmly shifted to a sound fiscal stance." Specifically, "the budget for political subsidies and the budget for interest cartels were drastically cut, and a total of KRW 23 trilli
Contributed by Park Do-hyun, army officer candidate, the Department of Military Science, Dongshin University I have examined the important role of army officer candidates for the security of the Republic of Korea and explored the multifaceted nature of security challenges, including military, political, economic, and technological aspects facing the country. I have also provided insights into the direction that should be considered for our professional development to effectively contribute to national security as aspiring officer candidates. South Korea stands at a geopolitical crossroads, fac
By Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the 70th anniversary of the Korea Coast Guard Day ceremony at the Araseohae Gap Gate in Incheon, Korea, on Aug. 28 and encouraged the Korean Coast Guard, which has been doing its best to protect maritime sovereignty and national security for the past 70 years. Prior to the ceremony, the President visited the Gyeongin Port Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), where he was briefed on the status of the VTS and the Ara Waterway, and encouraged the workers, saying, "You are doing a great job." The President also held video calls with Captain Lee Ki-bong of
By Kim Ji-eun The Korean government has decided to provide US$2 million in humanitarian assistance for Hawaii to help respond to damage from the fires on Maui island that started on August 8, and informed the Hawaii state government and the United States federal government of its decision. Governor of Hawaii Josh Green extended deep appreciation to the Korean government on behalf of the state of Hawaii for its timely decision to offer aid. The fires, which recorded the largest number of fatalities over the period of the last 100 years of the U.S. history, left 93 people dead and some US$6 bill
By Lee Kap-soo After the official closure of the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree, German members who visited Beopjusa Temple in Songnisan, Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do, reportedly shaved their heads. According to Songnisan Beopjusa Temple on Aug. 14, about 40 German scout members experienced temple stay at Beopjusa Temple the previous day. German members reportedly made a temple stay reservation at Beopjusa Temple in Songnisan Mountain in February. Monk Hye-woo, head of Neungin Cultural Center, was in charge of the experience event. Monk Hye-woo explained the reason for hitting drums (beopgo)
By Lee Kap-soo Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha, Mayor of Dhulikhel Municipality of Nepal and Chandra Prakash Gharti, Mayor of Bheri Municipality of Nepal, visited Yangsan City in Gyeongsangnam-do on Aug. 15. International cultural exchanges between Yangsan City and Nepal are opening the door, starting with the two mayors' visits to Yangsan City Council, Tongdosa Temple, and Mitaam temple. On the same day, Nepal's mayors of Dulikel and Bheri and their party members kowtowed three times at the cave hall, which is sealed inside the Mita Cave, also known as Yangsan's Seokguram (Treasure No. 998). They
By Kim Ji-eun The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a launching ceremony for the 2023 Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Youth Mission on August 10 and appointed 26 university (graduate) students nationwide as youth envoys. Through the oath, the Youth Mission strengthened its determination to engage in activities in a sincere and responsible manner. Park Yong-min, a multilateral diplomatic coordinator, stressed in his encouraging speech that the role of young people is important for true peace considering future generations. Starting with a dialogue with the Secretary-General of the Comprehensiv
By Lee Kap-soo My fellow Koreans, 7.5 million compatriots living abroad, Today we mark the 78th Liberation Day. I pay tribute to our fallen forebears and patriots who sacrificed and dedicated themselves for our independence. I also wish to express my deep gratitude to their families. Our independence movement was to build a nation that is free and democratic; a nation where the people are its rightful owners; and a nation where freedom, human rights and the rule of law reign supreme. It was not to just reclaim our sovereignty nor to return to monarchy. It was never an attempt to establish a co
By Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee attended the 78th Liberation Day celebration held at Ewha Womans University's auditorium in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on August 15. More than 2,000 people attended the ceremony, including patriots, independence fighters and bereaved families, major public officials and representatives from all walks of life, diplomatic corps in Korea, and citizens. The celebration was held under the theme of "Great People, Journey to Freedom," with the aim of moving toward greater freedom with great people who have made remarkable developments in v
By Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol invited key UNC (United Nations Command) officials to the President's office on August 10. This meeting was designed to sympathize with the UNC's commitment to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to broaden its mutual understanding of its functions and roles. In particular, it was planned based on the judgment that the role of the UNC become more important than now and the President is responsible for national security at a time when North Korea's nuclear threat is escalating. "We appreciate the efforts UNC has made for peace and stability o
By Kim Ji-eun Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Hong Seok-in held the second briefing on the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree for the diplomatic corps in Korea on August 7. In the briefing, attended by officials from the diplomatic missions of 78 countries in Korea, Ambassador and Deputy Minister Hong explained contingency plan in response to Typhoon Khanun moving northward, and listened to the opinions of the diplomatic missions in Korea. In the briefing, participants expressed appreciation to the Korean government for making a difficult decision in a timely manner and t
By Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee invited 158 independence fighters and bereaved families to the President’s Guest House for a luncheon on Aug. 9. On the 78th anniversary of Liberation Day, which falls on Aug. 15, the luncheon was prepared to put into practice the President's usual idea that "the state is responsible for sacrifices for the country to the end." The South Korean military honor guard and military band welcomed independence fighters and their bereaved families who attended the luncheon with the best protocol. Patriot Kim Young-kwan; Kim Mi, Kim K