President Lee Jae Myung delivers remarks at a luncheon for national merit recipients and their families at Cheong Wa Dae's Yeongbingwan banquet hall on Thursday. [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung delivers remarks at a luncheon for national merit recipients and their families at Cheong Wa Dae's Yeongbingwan banquet hall on Thursday. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday he would do everything in his power to help South Korea rise further on the world stage, built on the sacrifices and dedication of national merit recipients and their families.

Lee made the remarks at a luncheon for national merit recipients and their families held that morning at the Yeongbingwan banquet hall of Cheong Wa Dae. "When it comes to repaying the noble sacrifice of those who risked their lives for the nation, can there really be a divide between progressives and conservatives?" he said.

About 180 people attended the event, including members of veterans' organizations, national merit recipients and their bereaved families, descendants of independence fighters living abroad, families of soldiers and firefighters who died in the line of duty, families of soldiers killed defending the West Sea, and veterans who served in those operations.

"If someone had not stood up to protect this country, today's South Korea — and our everyday lives — would not exist," Lee said. He stressed the need to build a nation where people are willing to step forward in times of crisis, saying special sacrifices must be met with special recognition and that honoring and recording those sacrifices is what makes such a nation possible.

Lee then said the government had expanded the scope and eligibility of compensation to provide more meaningful support, strengthened medical assistance for those in need, and was broadening efforts to pass on the spirit of national service to future generations and advance veterans' diplomacy. "We will not stop working to ensure that the values of national service are fully carried forward to the next generation — to remember and preserve them together," he said.

He added that the histories of independence, national defense and democracy are not separate histories but a single history that has shaped today's South Korea, and pledged to strengthen recognition and support for national merit recipients and their families.

Among the special guests were descendants of independence fighters living abroad: Sergei Chopov and Maxim Chopov, great-great-grandchildren of the late independence activist Heo Wi; Kim Maxim, a great-great-grandson of the late Min Gung-ho; and Kim Alina, a great-great-granddaughter of the late Kim Gyeong-cheon.

Also in attendance were Choi Jae-woo, father of the late Pvt. Choi Min-seo, who died while fulfilling his military duty, and Park Cheon-bok, father of the late Fire Sergeant Park Su-dong, who died while fighting a fire. Families of soldiers killed while defending the West Sea and veterans of those operations were also invited.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong said Lee personally pinned Taegukgi badges on representatives from the independence, national defense and democracy categories. "The backs of the badges were engraved with the names of the attendees, to express respect and gratitude for their sacrifice and dedication to the nation and community," she said.


sang@heraldcorp.com