Early on January 1, the president visited the cemetery to pay her respects to patriotic martyrs and to the fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country.
Prime Minister Chung Hongwon, ministers, vice ministers and a delegation from Cheong Wa Dae were part of the president’s first New Year event, too.
President Park Geun-hye (right) lights an incense stick in honor of fallen patriots at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, southern Seoul, on January 1.
President Park Geun-hye pays her respects to national martyrs and fallen patriots at the Seoul National Cemetery on January 1.
In a message she wrote in the cemetery's guest book, she said, “As we ring in the New Year of the Blue Sheep (靑羊), a year that also marks the 70th anniversary of the nation’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, I hope to see peace and prosperity across the peninsula.”
Earlier, in a video message for the nation’s military that was aired at midnight on December 31, the president said, “This year marks the 70th anniversary of both national independence and division. We must put an end to the seven decade-long Cold War and division of the peninsula.”
“We should establish substantial groundwork to achieve unification and should endeavor to reinvigorate the economy and to promote national innovation,” she added.
President Park Geun-hye and other participants head toward the memorial tower, known as the Hyeonchungtap, at the Seoul National Cemetery, to pay their respects to national martyrs and to fallen heroes, on January 1.
“I appreciate all those who contribute to protecting and defending our country nationwide and also those soldiers who are dispatched overseas who dedicate themselves to realizing world peace and to raising our national standing in foreign lands, far away from home,” the president said.
“As, above all else, sound military readiness and strong national security are required to achieve national tasks, it’s very important that all of you [soldiers] have a strong sense of patriotism and duty.”
“As president, I have great trust in our military's soldiers and commanders at various levels. I firmly believe that your patriotic spirit and strong will to protect the nation will bring true peace and unification to the peninsula,” she added.
In a message she writes in the guest book at the Seoul National Cemetery on January 1, President Park Geun-hye calls for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula as we usher in a new year, the Year of the Blue Sheep, which also marks the 70th anniversary of the nation’s liberation from Japanese imperialism.
By Wi Tack-whan, Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
whan23@korea.kr
