President Yoon Hosts Luncheon for National Merit Recipients... "I Will Protect You Without Any Gaps"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] On the 17th, President Yoon Seok-yeol had lunch with 130 national veterans and their families at the Yongsan War Memorial. Among them were families who found the remains of soldiers who died in the Korean War, as well as archery player Kim Kang-hoon and cycling player Na Hyung-yoon, who won gold medals at the Invictus Games, a global sporting event for wounded soldiers held in The Hague, Netherlands, last April. Also present were Kim Jeong-gyu, President of the Republic of Korea Meritorious Service Association, and Kang Gil-ja, President of the Republic of Korea War Veterans Widows Association.

Before the lunch, President Yoon, accompanied by his wife Kim Geon-hee, visited the National Military Martyrs' Memorial at the War Memorial and paid silent tribute in front of the memorial plaque of the late Corporal Jo Eung-seong, whose remains were excavated last October at Baengmagoji. Then, at the entrance of the dining hall, he greeted each national veteran and their family members individually.

In his greeting, President Yoon said, "Remembering those who sacrificed and devoted themselves for the country together with the people and responsibly inheriting their spirit is the dignity of the nation and the way to establish the country's identity," adding, "Each and every one of you is a hero." He continued, "We will embrace veterans and their families more warmly and honor them with pride together with the people," and pledged, "I will protect you without any gaps."

President Yoon presented the 'National Veterans Nameplate' to the veterans. This award has been organized by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs since 2019 to foster pride among national veterans and their families and to create a social atmosphere of respect. A presidential office official explained, "President Yoon has often said that who a nation remembers determines its national dignity," and added that this lunch was arranged in the spirit of the Month of Patriots and Veterans.

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