President Moon Attends Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony: "War Deterrence Depends on Air Force Innovation" (Comprehensive)

Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies Without Parents Due to COVID-19 Impact... "We Must Be Able to Decide the Fate of the Korean Peninsula Ourselves"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "One hundred years ago, General No Baek-rin established the first ‘Korean pilot training school’ in California, USA, to prepare for the independence war. This is the origin of the Republic of Korea Air Force."

President Moon Jae-in attended the graduation and commissioning ceremony of the 68th Air Force Academy cadet class held at the Air Force Academy in Cheongju, Chungbuk, on the afternoon of the 4th, and shared the story of General No Baek-rin. President Moon said, "General Choi Yong-deok of the Provisional Government Liberation Army Headquarters launched the ‘Air Force Planning Committee,’ and based on this, the Republic of Korea Air Force was established in 1949," adding, "The performance of our Air Force during the Korean War was truly remarkable."

President Moon emphasized, "As a citizen and as the president, I am very proud of the history of our Air Force." He attended the graduation ceremony amid the declaration of an emergency response system related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Due to COVID-19 concerns, families were unable to attend the ceremony.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In his speech, President Moon stressed, "Both the outcome of war and deterrence depend on the Air Force’s ‘innovation.’"

President Moon said, "The challenges we will face in the future will be completely different from those in the past," and added, "We must be able to respond to various threats that transcend borders and prepare for future wars such as ‘scientific warfare,’ ‘information warfare,’ and ‘aerial warfare.’" He further stated, "We must boldly confront new types of threats that have emerged in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and drones."

President Moon emphasized, "We must be able to determine the fate of the Korean Peninsula ourselves. Gunfire must never again erupt in the skies, land, and seas of the Korean Peninsula," and added, "Your role is very important in maintaining and creating peace through ironclad security."

Meanwhile, the graduation and commissioning ceremony proceeded for one hour in the order of awarding honors, presenting diplomas, commissioning orders, rank insignia, commissioning oath, presidential congratulatory speech, parade, and celebratory flight. President Moon specially comforted the cadets who were commissioned without their families present, and First Lady Kim Jung-sook personally prepared congratulatory gifts on behalf of the families.

Families who could not attend the event conveyed their congratulations to the cadets through a surprise video message. The Air Force Academy provided live streaming of each commissioned cadet’s appearance for their families. Upon arriving at the academy, President Moon laid a wreath at the ‘Eternal Light’ memorial monument honoring the 391 air personnel who died or were killed in action since the founding of the armed forces.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.