Busan City Hosts the 9th West Sea Defense Day Commemoration Ceremony

On the 22nd at 10 a.m., Busan City held the '9th West Sea Defense Day Commemoration Ceremony' at the city hall auditorium.

'West Sea Defense Day' is a legal memorial day established in 2016 to honor the 55 soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong in 2002, the Cheonan ship sinking incident in 2010, and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling. It is observed annually on the fourth Friday of March.

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Held for the 9th time this year, the 'West Sea Defense Day Commemoration Ceremony' was hosted by Busan City and the Busan Regional Veterans Affairs Office, and organized by the Love for Country Busan Council to honor the sacrifice and dedication of the 55 West Sea defense heroes who gave their lives for the nation.

The ceremony was attended by about 700 people, including Mayor Park Hyung-jun, families of the West Sea defense heroes, key officials, military personnel, veterans, and representatives from civic organizations.

The ceremony proceeded in the following order: national anthem, roll call of the 55 West Sea defense heroes, screening of the West Sea Defense Day video, commemorative speech by Mayor Park Hyung-jun, memorial speeches by Jeon Jong-ho, head of the Busan Regional Veterans Affairs Office, and Ha Yun-su, Busan Superintendent of Education, reading of a tribute poem by Navy Operations Commander Choi Seong-hyeok, the pledge, and commemorative performances.

At the entrance of the ceremony venue, a memorial photo exhibition of the 55 West Sea defense heroes was held to honor their courage, fighting spirit, and shining patriotism.

Especially meaningful this year was the attendance of Jo Si-eun, daughter of the late Sergeant Jo Cheon-hyeong, a hero of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, who followed in her father's footsteps by choosing a career in the navy as a naval officer candidate.

Jo Si-eun joined as a Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NROTC) candidate at Pukyong National University in 2023, completed two years of ROTC education and 10 weeks of naval officer training, and is scheduled to be commissioned as a navy second lieutenant in March 2025.

Additionally, over 130 middle and high school students, including students from Seyon High School, alma mater of the late Master Sergeant Moon Young-wook, a fallen hero of the Cheonan ship, attended together, providing an opportunity to pass on the proud history of West Sea defense to future generations.

As a gesture of remembrance and gratitude, 55 students from Modong Middle School entered holding photos of each of the 55 West Sea defense heroes in a memorial performance.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun stated, “We who live today must be grateful for the dedication of the West Sea defense heroes and bear the responsibility to make this land greater and prouder. The noble spirit of the patriots who protected our seas with their lives will be carried forward by the maritime city of Busan toward greater prosperity for the Republic of Korea.”

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