Jang Dong-hyeok vows to improve service conditions

'All citizens trust the Marine Corps and live safely'

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok shakes hands with troops at the Marine Corps 6th Brigade on Baengnyeongdo in Ongjin-gun, Incheon, on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok shakes hands with troops at the Marine Corps 6th Brigade on Baengnyeongdo in Ongjin-gun, Incheon, on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

The People Power Party visited the Marine Corps 6th Brigade on Baengnyeongdo in Incheon on Tuesday, meeting with troops stationed there. Party leadership told the soldiers that "given the various situations facing South Korea, we believe it is each and every one of our service members that the people can trust."

The visit was led by PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok and included Policy Committee Chairwoman Lim Yi-ja, Secretary-General Jeong Hui-yong and Chief of Staff Park Jun-tae.

Jang first paid his respects at the memorial tower for the 46 sailors killed in the Cheonan sinking before proceeding to the 6th Brigade. There, he told troops that "as with the Cheonan attack, there was also a recent incident in which a mine believed to have been planted by North Korea exploded," adding that "continued North Korean provocations are deepening public anxiety."

"Coming here today and seeing all of you gives me great reassurance," Jang said. "The Republic of Korea Marine Corps is a strategic asset of this country — one the people count on. All citizens trust you and are living safely because of you."

Jang also pledged to work toward improving service conditions for troops. "If our service members are dedicating everything to protecting the lives and safety of the Korean people, then safeguarding those service members is a duty of the state," he said. "The People Power Party will do its utmost to honor our troops and improve their working conditions so that you can serve with the recognition and comfort you deserve."

Jang then visited Observation Post 807 and an artillery battalion, where he received a briefing from the 6th Brigade commander on unit operations and inspected weapons systems before encouraging the troops: "We will trust only you to defend the northwestern islands."


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