22nd Anniversary Memorial Service
for the Late Lieutenant Commander Yoon Young-ha
In 2002, Heroes of the West Sea Fought Valiantly and Triumphed
Esteemed citizens of Incheon,
To the families who are still grieving the irreparable loss of their loved ones,
To all who have gathered here today to commemorate
Lieutenant Commander Yoon Young-ha and the heroes
of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong.
A proud son of Incheon and a hero of the Republic of Korea,
Lieutenant Commander Yoon Young-ha gave his life
out of a deep sense of patriotism 22 years ago.
On the morning of June 29, 2002,
3 miles south of the Northern Limit Line and 14 miles west of Yeonpyeong Island,
our heroes on Chamsuri-class patrol boat PKM 357 faced a surprise attack
by a North Korean patrol boat. They fought valiantly and achieved victory.
Lieutenant Commander Yoon Young-ha,
the captain of Chamsuri-class patrol boat PKM 357
Senior Chief Petty Officer Han Sang-gook, who was found clutching the helm
Senior Chief Petty Officer Cho Chun-hyung and Chief Petty Officer Hwang Do-hyun,
who perished alongside their gun mount
Chief Petty Officer Seo Hu-won, who bravely faced the enemy without cover
Petty Officer Second Class Park Dong-hyuk,
who, despite suffering from gunshot and shrapnel wounds,
selflessly devoted himself to his comrades
Amid the fervor of the Republic of Korea reaching
the semifinals in the 2002 FIFA World Cup,
the heroes of the West Sea sacrificed their lives
to defend the peace, freedom, joy, and happiness we all cherished at that time.
Remembering and Honoring Their Sacrifice Is Both Our Duty and Mission
We are forever indebted to the heroes who laid down their lives for our nation.
It is our duty and mission to remember them always and to honor their sacrifice.
Together, our collective memory will forever fortify the pillars of peace and freedom.
On September 15, 1950, during the Incheon Landing Operation,
the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and UN forces fought for
and won universal values of peace and freedom.
Similarly, on June 28, 2002, Lieutenant Commander Yoon Young-ha
and the heroes of the Yeonpyeong battle repelled a violent provocation
off the coast of Incheon, preserving our peace and freedom.
Even 22 years later, Lieutenant Commander Yoon Young-ha
and the heroes of the Yeonpyeong battle continue
to protect the peace of the Republic of Korea.
This is why I have declared Incheon a true “City of World Peace.”
Sacrifice and dedication to our nation and people must always be reciprocated.
Only when we expand and prioritize respect and compensation
for our national veterans can the Republic of Korea truly stand proud.
Incheon will elevate its status as a city of patriotic heritage
and veterans’ affairs through appropriate respect
for our national veterans and their families.
We will lead initiatives to expand practical support for veterans’ families,
including pushing forward with the establishment
of a Veterans’ Affairs Center and increasing allowances for spouses of war veterans.
With Deepest Respect,
We Commemorate the Sublime Dedication of These Great Heroes
As we observe the 22nd anniversary of Lieutenant Commander
Yoon Young-ha’s memorial service,
we engrave in our hearts once again the courage and sacrifice
of the heroes of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong.
Although 22 years have passed, the pain and sorrow felt by the families
who have lost their loved ones do not easily fade.
We offer our deepest, heartfelt condolences.
We extend our gratitude to the principal and all the staff members
who have prepared today’s memorial service,
and to the chairman of the Lieutenant Commander Yoon Young-ha Memorial Foundation.
Thank you as well to all the honored guests who have joined us today.
To the students of Songdo High School,
who are the successors and future leaders of the Republic of Korea:
you had such a proud senior as Lieutenant Commander Yoon Young-ha.
Such a proud hero was here in Incheon.
May today be a day when we all once again feel the profound patriotism
that protected the peace and freedom of ourselves,
our families, our neighbors, and our nation.
We dedicate our heartfelt respect to the great and noble sacrifice
of Lieutenant Commander Yoon Young-ha and the heroes of the Yeonpyeong battle.
