During his visit to the Marine Corps Yeonpyeong Unit in Ongjin, Incheon, President Lee stated, "Our military must be rearmed with advanced science and technology." This marked his first visit to the front-line Marine Corps since taking office.
He emphasized the need for soldiers to evolve into specialized personnel capable of operating advanced weaponry, stating, "The time spent in the military should not be seen as wasted but as an opportunity to develop skills that can be utilized in civilian life."
The selective recruitment system would maintain the current conscription policy while allowing eligible individuals to choose between mandatory short-term service or a longer-term technical combat officer role.
Addressing the troops, President Lee expressed gratitude for their sacrifices, saying, "Thanks to your dedication, the public enjoys a comfortable daily life. I believe those who make special sacrifices deserve special rewards."
He also called for defense reform, noting that the defense budget is set to increase to 3.5% of GDP. "This means we will need to spend significantly more on defense, ensuring that funds are used to enhance military capabilities and create new opportunities for youth," he added.
President Lee stressed the importance of national security, outlining three stages: winning through combat, winning without fighting, and eliminating the need for conflict altogether, which he defined as peace. He stated, "Peace is both a goal and the strongest foundation of security, but it must be backed by a strong deterrent against adversaries."
He pledged to transform the South Korean military into a forward-looking force, enhancing capabilities to become a proud and powerful military on the global stage.
Reflecting on the nation's past, he acknowledged that the government has not adequately compensated for the sacrifices made for the community. "While the country was once poor and relied on physical labor, we now possess a robust economy," he said.
He promised to improve the military system to ensure that military service becomes a valuable part of personal development.
During his visit, President Lee, dressed in Marine Corps fatigues, shared lunch with the troops and toured the unit's facilities. He had previously planned to visit the Yeonpyeong Unit in February, but the trip was canceled due to bad weather.
After the meeting, he inspected the shooting range and the Peace Observatory, where he experienced firing the K2 rifle and K15 machine gun. He also boarded the K9A1 self-propelled howitzer, where he aimed the K-6 machine gun.
President Lee successfully fired ten rounds from the K2 rifle, hitting the target each time, and smiled as he noted the grouping of shots at the lower part of the target. He also fired twenty rounds from the K15 machine gun, hitting the target five times.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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