Incheon Security Conference, ISC Welcome Address

Welcome to the Incheon Security Conference (ISC), 

the final event of this week's commemoration of the 73rd anniversary of the Incheon landing operation. 

I am Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City.

I would like to thank Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Minister of Patriots 

and Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik, and Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs 

and Unification Committee Kim Tae-ho for coming to Incheon to attend the Incheon Security Conference 

and to support peace on the Korean Peninsula and global security cooperation. 

I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to 

former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who delivered the keynote speech today.

We welcome the domestic and foreign experts who will share their opinions 

on our policies and strategies amidst the rapidly changing international situation.

The participation of 22 countries in the Korean War is historically significant in that many people 

recognized the importance of freedom, peace, brotherhood 

and international security and acted together to protect them.

The Incheon Landing Operation was an important turning point 

that helped our soldiers protect the absolute values of freedom and peace.

It can marked as the first step that helped us resolve the Korean War.

Today, we are in a situation where we must once again think about world peace and security. 

Conflicts large and small are taking place around the world, such as the war between Ukraine and Russia.

The Military Demarcation Line means that the war on the Korean peninsula has not ended, 

but the fighting has stopped with the exceptions of naval 

and artillery battles between North Korea and South Korea 

that took place in Incheon about 20 years ago and 10 years ago.

The East Asian region, including the Republic of Korea, 

is a place of strong tensions over territorial and maritime disputes 

along with ethnic issues that keep the attention of the world’s powers on this region.

Therefore, I believe that Incheon, located in the center of East Asia and embracing the West Sea, 

is a vital site both geographically and historically for the protection of world peace and security.

Incheon is the "City of World Peace" where young soldiers from all over the world 

shed their blood and sacrificed their lives to protect freedom and peace.

Incheon, which we have regained, overcame the horrors of war, 

and now has the best free economic zone in the country, a world-class international airport and Incheon Port, 

the gateway to sea routes connecting Asia, Europe, America. 

And Incheon is emerging as a major growth engine for Korea.

Now, Incheon is poised to become a world-class city with happy citizens, 

based on the "Jemulpo Renaissance Initiative" and the "New Hong Kong City Project.”

As a city that has overcome war and achieved peace and prosperity, 

we will strive to make the Incheon Landing Operation 

a symbol of peace in Korea and East Asia, and even a symbol of world peace.

I hope that today's Incheon Security Conference will become a meaningful venue 

for discussion and sharing of our vision for security and peace 

on the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and throughout the world. 

I foresee a commitment to seek innovative ways to cooperate.

Finally, I would like to express my deep respect for the footsteps of the patriotic fallen soldiers 

who participated in the landing operation at Incheon Harbor during the Korean War. 

And with those thoughts, I once again welcome you to the Incheon Security Conference.

Thank you very much.