Diplomacy Journal Kim Tae Yeon | According to a written briefing by Cheong Wa Dae Deputy Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong, President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung hosted a luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae on the morning of the 13th for some 180 national merit recipients and veterans' families, conveying their respect and gratitude to those who have sacrificed and dedicated themselves to the nation and the community.
The event was attended by the members of the veterans' organizations, including national merit recipients and their bereaved families, as well as descendants of overseas independence activists, bereaved families of soldiers and firefighters who died in the line of duty, bereaved families of those who defended the West Sea, and war veterans.
Under the slogan, "The Republic of Korea You Defended, We Will Make Her Bloom," the event proceeded in the order of screening a video of gratitude, presentation of Taegeukgi badges, remarks by the President, luncheon, and a performance of appreciation. President Lee Jae-myung personally pinned Taegeukgi badges on representatives representing the fields of independence, national defense, and democracy. The Taegeukgi badge is designed to allow those who have dedicated themselves to the nation to wear the flag they have cherished in their hearts; the names of the attendees are engraved on the back, conveying respect and gratitude for their sacrifice and dedication to the nation and the community.
President Lee Jae-myung then emphasized, "The histories of independence, national defense, and democracy are not separate histories, but a single history that has built today's Republic of Korea." He added, "Although the eras to be defended were different and the forms of sacrifice and dedication to be endured varied, the will to protect the Republic of Korea and build a better country was one and the same."
He also expressed his gratitude by mentioning the descendants of independence activists who have carried on the spirit of their ancestors in distant foreign lands, the parents of soldiers and police officers who lost their children in the line of duty, the bereaved families of soldiers who died defending the West Sea, war veterans, and the attendees who participated in the democratization movement and left records of it. He stated, "Each and every one of you who have dedicated yourselves to the nation is the very protagonist who created the Republic of Korea of today." President Lee Jae-myung explained the efforts made so far, including expanding the scope and eligibility of compensation, strengthening medical support, inheriting the spirit of veterans' affairs, and expanding veterans' diplomacy, stating, "Over the past year, the Government of People's Sovereignty has been improving systems under the principle of 'special compensation for special sacrifices' to ensure higher honors and more substantial support for sacrifices made for the nation." In particular, he emphasized, "There can be no distinction between progressives and conservatives when it comes to repaying the noble devotion of those who risked their lives for the motherland."
He further promised, "I will do my utmost to ensure that the Republic of Korea of today, achieved through the sacrifice and dedication of national merit recipients and their families, can make a greater leap forward as a shining nation in the world," adding, "I will fulfill the state's responsibilities and duties to ensure there is no lack in protecting your honor and lives."
In response, representing the attendees, Lee Jong-chan, President of the Korea Liberation Association; Park Geon-yong, President of the Association of Widows of Fallen Soldiers; and Yang Jae-hyuk, President of the 5·18 Bereaved Families Association, expressed their gratitude to President Lee Jae-myung and wished for the health and well-being of the national merit recipients and their families present. During the subsequent luncheon, at the suggestion of President Lee Jae-myung, the attendees shared their personal stories and reflections.
Jo Hyun-yi, the great-granddaughter of independence activist Jo Wi-dae, stated, "I learned that veterans' affairs are not history confined to the past, but a value that lives and breathes within our lives today." She added, "My first responsibility as a young person and a descendant is not to forget the freedom our ancestors defended with their lives and their noble sacrifices."
Kwon Hyun-ju, head coach of the Para Archery National Team, shared that while she faced many difficult moments living as a Grade 1 disabled veteran, she gained the strength to live again by participating as a representative of South Korea in the 2023 Invictus Games in Germany and witnessing disabled veterans from around the world taking on challenges and cheering each other on. She continued by expressing her hope, saying, "I hope more disabled veterans will take on challenges and step out into the world," and added, "I hope the public will look a little closer to the lives of those who were injured while dedicating themselves to the nation." Ms. Ju So-yeon, whose diary regarding the May 18 Democratization Movement, written while she was a high school senior, was inscribed as a UNESCO Memory of the World, shared her experiences from that time, stating, "For 15 years, until May 18 was officially recognized as a democratization movement, I lived in silence, branded a rioter incited by North Korean spies." She went on to share a memory of her resolve to "not hide behind pain, but to make the facts known so that the truth is not distorted."
