South Korea Commemorates 76th Anniversary of Korean War with Ceremony
Ceremony to Honor Korean War Veterans
Photo: IANS
Seoul, June 24: This week, South Korea is set to host a ceremony to honor the 76th anniversary of the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953. The event aims to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by soldiers during this significant conflict, as announced by the veterans ministry on Wednesday.
The ceremony will take place on Thursday at a convention center located in Suwon, just south of Seoul, and is expected to attract around 1,000 attendees, including diplomats from nations that participated in the war.
During the proceedings, the ministry will award the Order of Military Merit to three individuals recognized as "irregular forces" for their contributions to the war efforts, with two of these honors being awarded posthumously, according to reports from Yonhap News Agency.
A choir made up of descendants from an Ethiopian unit that served during the Korean War will perform the traditional Korean folk song "Arirang" as part of the ceremony.
Additionally, the veterans ministry plans to distribute appreciation plaques to approximately 35,000 families of deceased service members and police officers in recognition of their sacrifices.
On the eve of this anniversary, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited a Marine Corps unit stationed near North Korea, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining strong deterrence to ensure peace. His visit took place at the Marine Corps base on Yeonpyeong Island, situated just below the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, which serves as the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas.
Reflecting on the Korean War, which concluded with an armistice on July 27, 1953, Lee highlighted the division of the Korean Peninsula into the capitalist South and the socialist North, noting that the two nations remain technically at war.
During a lunch with service members, the President outlined three phases of national security: achieving victory in combat, securing peace without conflict, and preventing conflict altogether. He emphasized that the latter is crucial for true peace, stating, "This is the essence of peace. Peace is the strongest foundation for security."
Lee asserted that peace must be underpinned by "strong deterrence to overpower the enemy," and he committed to enhancing military capabilities to transform the nation's armed forces into a formidable entity.
Furthermore, the President announced plans to reform the country's mandatory military service system, indicating that the government aims to eventually transition to a voluntary service model. He stated, "I will reform the system so that you no longer waste your precious time in the military, but that (your military service) helps you demonstrate your abilities in society."