Buyeong Group announced that the 54th Parents' Day ceremony, hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and organized by the Korean Senior Citizens Association, was successfully held on May 8 at the International Conference Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul.
The ceremony, themed "Parents! With the Wings of Love, We Bloom as Flowers," was attended by over 230 participants, including honorees for filial piety and their families, as well as elderly individuals living alone. Notably, President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung attended the event, expressing deep respect and gratitude towards the older generation, enhancing the significance of the occasion.
In his speech, President Yoon stated, "The prosperity that South Korea enjoys today is possible because of the sacrifices made by our parents, who dedicated themselves to their families and society."
The event also drew attention with the invitation of parents of firefighters and police officers who lost their lives while responding to incidents in Mungyeong and Gimje. The presidential couple personally presented carnations to these parents, offering comfort and stating, "The nation will fulfill its duty to remember their sacrifices forever."
During the ceremony, 22 individuals who contributed to the practice of filial piety and the promotion of filial culture were honored. President Yoon personally awarded medals to six recipients, including Park Jae-du, who has cared for his disabled mother for over 40 years and established a Confucian university in Donghae that provides filial education to around 5,000 students annually.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Lee Joong-geun emphasized, "South Korea was built on the sacrifices of the parent generation, who overcame difficult times and led the country’s industrialization and development." He added, "Parents' Day should not only be a day to express gratitude but also a 'day for everyone' to understand and care for each other across generations, continuing the values of community." He expressed hope that this ceremony would help foster a warmer society.
The government plans to significantly enhance policy support to ensure that elderly individuals can live comfortably in their communities as the country faces an aging population. The Ministry of Health and Welfare is also providing tailored medical and caregiving services through the 'Community Integrated Care' system, which has been implemented nationwide since March of this year.
Chairman Lee has proposed several initiatives to enhance the rights and welfare of the elderly, including raising the elderly age threshold, promoting home hospice care, establishing a population department, and supporting the construction of a central headquarters for the Korean Senior Citizens Association. He specifically suggested gradually raising the elderly age from the current 65 to 75, one year at a time, to manage the elderly population appropriately. Additionally, he has advocated for the activation of home hospice care to allow families to choose a dignified death at home.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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