Yoon Meets Families of Uniformed Heroes, Vows "To Do Our Best to Instill Pride"

Invitation Event for 'Heroes Family' at Yongsan Presidential Office
President Yoon Encourages Families of Fallen and Retired Military and Police Officers

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 22nd that he will do his best to ensure that the families of uniformed heroes such as soldiers, police officers, and firefighters, including the bereaved families of those killed or who died in the line of duty, can take pride in their loved ones.

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon held the event "Christmas of Dreams and Hope with the Heroes Family" at the Yongsan Presidential Office, spending meaningful time with the bereaved families of soldiers and police officers who died in the line of duty. The "Heroes Family" is a key project newly initiated by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs under the current administration to support minor children of fallen uniformed heroes in growing up with pride and in good health. So far, prominent figures from various sectors of society have supported these minor children as mentors (106 people), and the government and private organizations (such as the Woomi Hope Foundation and Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation) have collaborated to operate various emotional support programs and provide scholarships.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is watching the carol performance by the Brillante Children's Choir together with the children and spouses of fallen and deceased soldiers, police officers, firefighters, and other uniformed heroes at the "Christmas of Dreams and Hope with Heroes' Families" event held on the 22nd at the Fine Glass in the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

This event was organized with President Yoon’s strong determination to do his utmost so that the families of uniformed heroes?soldiers, police officers, and firefighters?who died protecting the nation’s security and the safety of its people, do not lose courage and can maintain their pride.

As the first Christmas event held inside the Presidential Office, about 30 people attended, including 14 children of elementary school age or younger and spouses of the bereaved families of soldiers and police officers who died in the line of duty. Among them were the family of the late Fire Lieutenant Heo Seung-min, who died from a head injury caused by falling roof structures while responding to strong winds to prevent casualties on May 4, 2016, the day before Children’s Day (children Heo So-yoon and spouse Park Hyun-sook); the family of the late Sergeant Lee Tae-gyun, who died in an explosion accident during K-9 self-propelled artillery firing training in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province on August 18, 2017 (child Lee Yong-jae and spouse Jung Ju-ri); and the family of the late Police Lieutenant Yu Jae-guk, who died while searching for a missing person who jumped into the Han River in February 2020 (child Yu Yi-hyun and spouse Lee Kkot-nim), among others from military, police, and firefighting families.

The invited children hung "dream cards" on the Dream Tree, on which they wrote their dreams, hoping for their dreams to come true. They then enjoyed a carol medley performed by the Brillante Children’s Choir and a magic show by magician Lee Jun-hyung. President Yoon hung the dream card on behalf of Yu Yi-hyun, who has spastic quadriplegia, sharing the hope that Yi-hyun’s dream will come true. Yi-hyun was born with spastic quadriplegia after his mother, Lee Kkot-nim, was shocked by the sudden death of her husband and gave birth prematurely at six months of pregnancy. He is still receiving ongoing hospital treatment.

The gifts provided to the children that day were items they had wanted. Shim Ji-an, the twin son of the late Fire Officer Shim Moon-gyu, received an astronomical telescope as he wished to see Jupiter up close, and Yu Yi-hyun, who likes English, received an English learning kids’ set. In addition, President Yoon shared lunch with the children and their accompanying guardians, engaging in conversations on various topics including childcare.