President Moon Begins Official Schedule with Visit to Arlington National Cemetery... Visits Roosevelt Memorial (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in, who is visiting the United States for the Korea-US summit, officially began his schedule by visiting Arlington National Cemetery, a symbol of the Korea-US alliance, to pay respects to the veterans who fought in the Korean War and the Unknown Soldiers.

On the 20th (local time), President Moon visited Arlington National Cemetery, where many Korean War veterans are buried, as his first schedule upon arriving in the US, and laid a wreath.

Although President Moon has visited the US four times for Korea-US summits since his inauguration, this is his first visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

At the entrance of the cemetery, a signboard read, "Welcome to Arlington National Cemetery, the most sacred site in the United States."

Following the guidance of the Washington District Commander, President Moon visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which honors the unknown soldiers known only to God. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier contains the remains of unknown soldiers who died in World War I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Afterwards, President Moon moved to the exhibition hall of the National Cemetery Memorial and donated a commemorative plaque engraved with the phrase "In honor of the Unknown Soldiers and their noble sacrifice." This follows the custom of displaying commemorative items in the exhibition hall during visits by foreign heads of state.

This commemorative plaque was made from relics of veterans who participated in the June 25th War (Korean War). It combined US badges, eagle emblem buttons, and star emblem buttons from veterans of the Masan Western Region Battle and the Dabudong Battle into an obelisk-shaped plaque.

Overall, the Blue House explained that the plaque utilizes traditional Korean patterns to symbolize that Korea’s tradition and prosperity were achieved through the efforts of allied veterans.

President Moon met with US officials attending the wreath-laying ceremony and said, "I pay tribute to the US soldiers who fought to protect the freedom and democracy of the Republic of Korea during the Korean War," and added, "Together with President Biden, we will further strengthen and comprehensively develop the Korea-US alliance," according to the Blue House.

Following this, President Moon visited the Roosevelt Memorial on the National Mall in Washington DC. Guided by the grandson of former President Roosevelt, President Moon toured the site.

President Roosevelt is known for overcoming the Great Depression in the US through the "New Deal" policy, and both President Moon and President Biden regard him as a figure they respect. Since taking office, President Biden has hung a portrait of Roosevelt in his office and considers him a role model. The situations faced by the two presidents, tasked with overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and rebuilding the economy, closely resemble those of President Roosevelt.

It is also interpreted as an effort to find another common ground with President Biden, who, like President Moon, is a lawyer by profession and a Catholic believer.

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