[Defense Brief] Why We Must Defend Baengnyeongdo

Baengnyeongdo, the "Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier" of the West Sea
Residents Stand with the Military to Defend the Island
"Living on the Island Is an Act of Patriotism"

The representative unit guarding Baengnyeongdo is the Marine Corps 6th Brigade. It is located in Sinmi-dong (新美洞). In front of the main gate, there are small shops. These shops opened to serve the U.S. military stationed here after the 1st and 4th retreats. The name of the village also originated from this. Later, the 6th Brigade settled here, and the shops gradually established themselves. If you go east from Sinmi-dong, you will reach Bukpo 3-ri. This village, which was farmland, formed as apartments for the Marine Corps 6th Brigade military unit were built. To the west of Sinmi-dong is Baengnyeong Church, called Immanuel Church, near which there is a monument. The monument contains an inscription honoring UN Commander Richard G. Stilwell for his service and contributions to the defense of the five West Sea islands and their residents.

General Stilwell was the figure who led the defense operations of the five West Sea islands from August 1973 to October 1976, during which North Korea concentrated provocations on these islands. At that time, North Korean vessels violated the Northern Limit Line more than 200 times, and on July 27, 1973, four North Korean patrol boats sank one of our fishing boats near Baengnyeongdo. Our military deployed air force fighters and navy destroyers to escort vessels traveling to and from the five West Sea islands.

However, on February 15, 1974, one of our skate-fishing boats (with 12 crew members) operating in international waters near Baengnyeongdo was sunk by a North Korean fast patrol boat. Subsequently, another fishing boat (with 13 crew members) was abducted to the North. Baengnyeongdo, which holds a history of war, also bears an indelible pain in the hearts of its island residents.

President Park Chung-hee instructed then-Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Han Shin to prepare countermeasures. The Joint Chiefs supplied the 105mm howitzers developed with domestic technology as well as M1 rifles, which had been issued only to active-duty soldiers, to the Baengnyeongdo reservists. President Park also did not withhold comfort to the residents of Baengnyeongdo. He told them, "Just living on the island is patriotism." This is similar in meaning to Chiang Kai-shek, the first president of Taiwan, honoring the residents of Kinmen Island as 'martyr residents.'

Support was also generous. The Ministry of Culture and Public Information held annual慰問 performances for the five West Sea islands, and Speaker of the National Assembly Lee Hyo-sang and Prime Minister Jeong Il-gwon visited Baengnyeongdo consecutively. Baengnyeongdo students were invited to the Blue House and received schoolbags as gifts. In response to North Korea's repeated provocations, evacuation facilities for residents and food supplies to last several months were stockpiled. This policy was the precursor to today's comprehensive development plan for the five West Sea islands, known as the 'Mid-term Measures for Stabilizing the Living Conditions of Residents in the Five West Sea Islands.'

However, recently, the sentiment among Baengnyeongdo residents has been uneasy. This is because an offshore wind power project is underway along the passenger ship route entering the five West Sea islands. Domestic and foreign companies have installed wind measurement devices at 15 locations along this route, intending to develop offshore wind power projects. Baengnyeongdo residents, along with residents of nearby Daecheong, Socheong, Daeyeonpyeong, and Soyeonpyeong islands, petitioned President Yoon Suk-yeol to remove all offshore wind power facilities installed on the passenger ship route and safety route, claiming infringement on their right to mobility. The residents' grievances do not end there. When North Korea launched a space launch vehicle on the 31st of last month, residents had to hide in island shelters. However, the shelters were unmanaged, with trash left unattended and doors locked. After residents protested, Ongjin County belatedly ordered a plan to refurbish the interiors of 46 island shelters.

Baengnyeongdo has long been considered a military strategic stronghold and called the 'unsinkable aircraft carrier' of the West Sea. It means an impregnable fortress that the enemy cannot occupy or destroy. Baengnyeongdo is recognized for the sovereignty and legitimacy of the Republic of Korea because it has residents. Since North Korea's attempts to invade the five West Sea islands are still ongoing, we must remember President Park's words that "just living on the island is patriotism."

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