Yoon Meets Veterans and Paedok Workers Right After Holiday... Promoting Security and Economic Awareness

Warning Against 'Fake Peace Theory' Amid Recent Security Situation
First Luncheon for Paedok Workers... 'Foundation of Korea's Industrialization'
Presidential Office "Reflecting on Past and Present, Moving Toward the Future"

President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed his gratitude to veterans and Korean workers dispatched to Germany on the day after the Chuseok holiday. President Yoon, who has set the goals for the fourth quarter of this year’s national administration as economic revitalization through exports and investment, stabilization of people’s livelihoods, and strengthening of diplomacy and security, met with individuals who worked on the front lines for South Korea’s security and economy in the past to encourage their efforts and to instill confidence in the public that the current complex crisis can be overcome.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the morning of the 4th, President Yoon attended the '71st Anniversary Ceremony of the Founding of the Veterans Association' held at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul. President Yoon attended the Veterans Association commemorative event last year as the first sitting president in 20 years since the 50th anniversary ceremony in 2002.

Regarding the recent domestic security situation, President Yoon pointed out the prevalence of a 'fake peace theory' and emphasized the importance of establishing a security perspective. Targeting the previous administration and opposition parties, President Yoon said, "There is still a rampant fake peace theory that insists on preemptively lifting UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea, dismantling the United Nations Command which plays a crucial role in deterring a southern invasion, declaring an end to the war, reducing North Korean reconnaissance assets, and not conducting South Korea-U.S. joint defense exercises to guarantee peace." He stressed, "Those of you with a firm belief in the free Republic of Korea must protect this country."

President Yoon then moved to the Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul to have lunch with about 240 Korean workers who were dispatched to Germany in the past, including miners, nurses, and nursing assistants. This is the first time a president has invited only Korean workers dispatched to Germany for lunch. The presidential office introduced this as reflecting the president’s will that the motherland should warmly care for and embrace compatriots who sacrificed themselves for the country.

In his opening remarks, President Yoon said, "I am pleased to meet you in this meaningful year marking the 140th anniversary of Korea-Germany diplomatic relations and the 60th anniversary of Korean workers dispatched to Germany," and expressed his gratitude, saying, "Your sweat and dedication laid the foundation for South Korea’s industrialization." He also emphasized, "In the 1960s and 1970s, about 20,000 miners and nurses working in distant Germany sent foreign currency that became seed money for South Korea to achieve the Miracle on the Han River. Your lives were the modern history of our country."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The presidential office explained that President Yoon’s meeting with those responsible for the past frontlines before embarking on full-scale activities in the economic, livelihood, and diplomatic security sectors in the fourth quarter reflects an intention to look back on the past and present and move forward into the future. A presidential office official said, "Members of the Veterans Association are not only responsible for past security but also currently protect national security together, and the Korean miners, nurses, and nursing assistants dispatched to Germany sacrificed themselves to help build our economy in the past. The government aims to be a support system for these individuals and take meticulous care of them."

He added, "The government has restored the broken South Korea-U.S. alliance and, based on this, is expanding South Korea’s diplomatic and security landscape. Additionally, we are enlarging the economic playing field so that our export companies can operate more freely. We will do our best in government-wide measures and efforts to recover the real economy, including addressing inflation and real estate issues."

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