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• Navy Celebrates 81st Anniversary in Gwanghwamun, Pledges to Protect Korea's Waters The Navy held a ceremony in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, to mark its 81st anniversary, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the safety of citizens and vessels while protecting maritime sovereignty. On the morning of November 11, the Navy hosted the 81st anniversary ceremony in front of the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, led by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Kim Kyung-ryul. The event was attended by veterans, bereaved families, former Chiefs of Naval Operations, heads of related organizations, and Navy and Marine Corps personnel. In his address, Admiral Kim honored the efforts and sacrifices of the founding elders, stating, "After liberation, Admiral Son Won-il and the founding elders established the Navy with the belief that 'the future of the nation lies at sea' despite difficult conditions." He continued, "The founding elders pooled their salaries and family donations to secure the first combat ship, the Baekdusan, and established the Marine Corps with the spirit of 'creating something from nothing,' laying the foundation for today's Navy and Marine Corps." Admiral Kim noted that the Navy has evolved by operating advanced Aegis destroyers and submarines, while the Marine Corps has introduced Marine-on amphibious assault helicopters, enhancing their core capabilities for national defense. He emphasized, "The economy of the Republic of Korea is connected to the world through sea routes, and ensuring the safety of our citizens and vessels while safeguarding maritime sovereignty is the Navy's crucial mission that supports our status as a maritime power." Admiral Kim pledged, "As an elite Navy that protects the people, we will not retreat in the face of any threat and will defend the waters of the Republic of Korea to the end." The ceremony began with the entrance of senior comrades alongside future generations, including naval cadets, military officer candidates, and students from naval science and technology high schools. It included a commemorative video presentation, a national ceremony, the presentation of the Son Won-il Award, a report on the Navy's history, and the reading of a congratulatory message from the President. To celebrate the establishment anniversary, the Navy organized related events. In the afternoon, a reopening ceremony for the exhibition titled 'Records of the First Three Days of Battle' featuring a model of the Baekdusan was held on the second floor of the War Memorial of Korea. At 7:30 PM, a patriotic concert themed 'Proud My Navy, Our Navy' will take place at KBS Hall in Yeouido.* This article has been translated by AI.
• Seoul Honors UN Veterans with 'Light of Gratitude 23' at Gwanghwamun Square Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square has transformed into a memorial space to honor UN veterans who defended South Korea's freedom and peace. The city of Seoul announced that on November 11, designated as the 'International Day of Remembrance for UN Veterans,' a community memorial event was held at the Square. This event was organized to allow citizens who cannot visit the UN Memorial Park in Busan to reflect on the sacrifices and dedication of the veterans. The Garden of Gratitude was created to express appreciation to the countries and veterans who participated in the Korean War and to share the values of freedom and peace. At the site, the 'Light of Gratitude 23' symbolizes the gratitude towards the participating nations and veterans. The underground 'Freedom Hall' features media content that explores the history of the Korean War and South Korea's growth. The program organized by the city includes a 'Candle of Remembrance' where citizens can light small candles, a special illumination of the Light of Gratitude 23, and a space for writing gratitude messages. The Candle of Remembrance involves distributing LED candles for free to citizens visiting the site after sunset, encouraging them to express their feelings of remembrance and gratitude around the Light of Gratitude 23. The special illumination is scheduled for 8 p.m., where the Light of Gratitude 23 will be lit in blue, symbolizing the UN. The lights will be turned on sequentially in 23 stages, repeating the lighting and extinguishing process 23 times to express gratitude to the participating nations and veterans. A program allowing citizens to leave messages of thanks is also available. Spaces for writing messages are set up in front of the Light of Gratitude 23 and at the entrance of Freedom Hall, with the messages displayed on a memorial wall in the underground hall until the 15th. This will allow visitors to read the messages and share in the meaning of remembrance even after the event. Photo opportunities with commemorative signs have been prepared for citizens and foreign visitors. An online remembrance challenge using the hashtags '#InternationalDayofRemembranceforUNVeterans_Gwanghwamun' and '#GardenofGratitude' has been launched to broaden participation. Seoul City plans to operate the Garden of Gratitude as an open space where citizens can experience the significance of history and share the values of peace and solidarity with the participating nations. Kang Seok, head of the Seoul City Balanced Development Headquarters, stated, "It is thanks to the sacrifices and dedication of UN veterans that South Korea enjoys freedom and peace today. I hope this memorial event remains a cherished memory in the daily lives of citizens and serves as an opportunity to reflect on the values of freedom and peace together."* This article has been translated by AI.
• Artist Seok Chang-woo to Illuminate Gwanghwamun with Media Art The Korea Cultural and Arts Foundation for the Disabled announced on September 3 that veteran artist Seok Chang-woo will participate in the large-scale media art exhibition 'OUTfront: Kiaf × MEDIA ART SEOUL,' which runs until September 19 in various locations across downtown Seoul.This special exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Kiaf Seoul, and the Gwanghwamun Free Expression Zone, will be simultaneously broadcast at eight sites in the city, including Atelier Nodeul, Atelier Gwanghwa, the Haechimadang Media Wall, KT Building, Segwang Building, Koreana Hotel, Dong-A Ilbo Building, and Ilmin Museum of Art.Seok Chang-woo, a disabled artist who lost both arms in an industrial accident, will showcase his work alongside artists Park Je-seong, Han Seung-gu, and Jeon Hye-joo. Utilizing prosthetic arms, Seok captures fleeting movements through ink sketching. His dynamic lines and narratives of life are integrated into his media art piece titled 'Breath of Ink,' which will be displayed at the Haechimadang Media Wall until December 19.Bang Gwi-hee, chairperson of the Korea Cultural and Arts Foundation for the Disabled, stated, “It is meaningful to promote the exceptional artistic capabilities of disabled artists to the public and the world through this collaborative exhibition with Kiaf, a leading art fair in Korea. We will continue to support disabled artists in their diverse artistic endeavors.”Additionally, a solo exhibition titled 'Question Mark at Fingertips' will be held from October 29 to December 5 at the Modu Art Space in Jung-gu, showcasing Seok's new and representative works. More information about this exhibition will be provided later on the Korea Cultural and Arts Foundation for the Disabled's Modu Art Space website.Modu Art Space is the first standard exhibition space in the country dedicated to supporting the creation and presentation of works by disabled artists, ensuring that both disabled and non-disabled individuals can enjoy art.* This article has been translated by AI.