President Lee Jae-myung said on the 1st that he still feels troubled when he thinks of the soldiers wounded in a recent accident in the Demilitarized Zone, adding that the incident is a reminder that "the ordinary days we enjoy rest on someone else's risk." He said he wished them a swift recovery and extended his condolences to their families.
Lee made the remarks at a ceremony marking the 78th Armed Forces Day, held on the runway at Gyeryongdae in South Chungcheong Province, where he wished a full recovery for soldiers injured in a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ. The remarks followed his visit the previous day to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital, where he comforted the wounded soldiers and their families, and his Armed Forces Day address again highlighted the sacrifice and dedication of service members.
During the meeting with the wounded soldiers the previous day, Lee instructed officials to ensure the troops receive proper treatment and rehabilitation as well as sufficient support to continue their military service. He stressed that failing to properly honor the wounded directly affects morale in the military and asked officials to make certain they are taken care of, instructing them to draw up concrete support measures and explain them to the families.
Lee also expressed gratitude to service members and to those who sacrificed for the country. "The freedom and peace we enjoy today were never achieved on their own," he said, highlighting the sacrifices of those who served the nation and its people, from the independence army and the Korean Liberation Army to fallen soldiers, founding members of the military, war veterans and reservists. He also thanked U.S. Forces Korea and troops from United Nations Command member states.
In the address, Lee emphasized both a strong defense posture and the restoration of trust between the two Koreas for peace on the Korean Peninsula. "The surest security is a state in which there is no need to fight — in other words, creating peace," he said. "The South and the North must find a path to win together for peace on the Korean Peninsula and build trust."
He added that his government would consistently pursue practical steps to lower military tensions between the two Koreas. "We expect and urge the North to now join us on the path of restoring trust and reviving the dialogue that has been cut off," he said.
