President Lee Jae-myung invited more than 160 national merit recipients and veteran families to the presidential office on the 27th. This event is part of a promise to significantly expand support for meritorious persons and their families and is organized at the presidential office to coincide with Patriotism and Veterans Month. At this event, President Lee stated, "We must provide special compensation and respect for those who made special sacrifices for our national community."
On this day, President Lee said at the 'Patriotism and Veterans Month, Presidential Invitation' event held in the presidential office's guesthouse, "In order for our country to be recognized as a better Korea, the entire community should provide special attention, affection, appropriate compensation, and respect for those who sacrificed for the continuation of the national community, the better life, safety, and lives of its members." He added, "We will take necessary measures for special attention, compensation, and respect."
President Lee noted, "Unfortunately, modern Korean history has been excessively neglectful of those who sacrificed everything for our country and for our national community," and asked, "Is it true that if you engage in independence movements, three generations will suffer, and if you collaborate with the enemy, three generations will prosper?" He continued, "Whether in the independence movement, the Korean War, or participating in foreign wars at the behest of national orders, appropriate compensation and respect must be provided."
At the beginning of the event, President Lee also named and introduced those who died and their families during the Korean War, the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, and the Cheonan ship sinking incident. Seventeen veterans' organizations and families of those who defended the West Sea were invited to the event. President Lee's spouse, Kim Hye-kyung, and National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lak also attended.