'Parents who sent their children to the military will worry more than usual ahead of Chuseok'

'Grateful to young soldiers dedicating their youth to defending the country'

'Seoul to help injured veterans reintegrate through youth counseling center'

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon delivers remarks at the opening ceremony of Seoul Itda Place in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday. [Yonhap]
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon delivers remarks at the opening ceremony of Seoul Itda Place in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday. [Yonhap]

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon called for a thorough investigation into a recent explosion in the Demilitarized Zone while wishing a speedy recovery to the soldiers injured in the blast.

Oh posted on his SNS on Wednesday that he was "heavy-hearted" to hear of the soldiers wounded in the DMZ explosion, and extended his "deepest condolences to their families" while wishing the injured a swift recovery.

"Even at this very moment, many young people are dedicating their youth to defending the country," he said. "With Chuseok just around the corner, parents who have sent their children to the military will be even more anxious and worried about them than usual." He added that "all citizens understand that feeling and are always grateful for the soldiers' dedication."

Oh said military authorities should "thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident and clearly explain the confirmed facts to the public," and that "there must be no lapse whatsoever in ensuring the soldiers' safety, treatment and veterans' benefits."

He said the Seoul Metropolitan Government was helping injured veterans gain recognition as persons of national merit and reintegrate into society through its youth counseling center for wounded discharged soldiers, and pledged that "heroes who were injured in service to the country will not be left alone on the road to recovery."


ikson@heraldcorp.com