Veteran Says, "If War Breaks Out, Please Send Me to the Front Again"... Lee Responds, "Thank You for Your Dedication"

President and First Lady Visit Central Veterans Hospital
Pay Respects to Veterans Receiving Inpatient Treatment
Lee: "Thanks to You, Korea Is Recognized Worldwide"

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visited the Central Veterans Hospital on June 6, following their attendance at the Memorial Day ceremony, to offer their respects to national merit recipients currently receiving inpatient treatment.

An Gwi-ryeong, Deputy Spokesperson for the Office of the President, stated in a written briefing that the presidential couple was warmly welcomed by the hospitalized veterans and their families. President Lee inquired about their well-being, asking, "Where does it hurt?" and "Are you receiving proper treatment?" He knelt down to shake hands and take photos with veterans in wheelchairs.

President Lee Jae-myung is delivering a memorial address at the 71st Memorial Day Ceremony held at the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on June 6, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

President Lee also conversed with national merit recipients to offer comfort. Park Hyung-woo, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Baekma Division, told the President, "If war breaks out, please send me to the front lines again. I am ready to sacrifice for the country." President Lee responded, "Thank you for your dedication. I will do my utmost to prevent war from occurring."

Hwang Dae-sik, who also served in the same unit as Mr. Park, remarked, "The hospital is so comfortable and nice." President Lee replied, "Still, I hope you recover quickly and are able to go home soon," prompting laughter from those around.

President Lee expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thanks to your sacrifice and dedication, the Republic of Korea is now recognized worldwide," while First Lady Kim also wished them a speedy recovery, saying, "Please take good care of your health."

After the visit, the presidential couple stopped by the nursing station to encourage the medical staff on duty and thank them for their hard work. President Lee further emphasized that honoring national merit recipients is a fundamental duty of the state, and requested that special attention be paid so that both the veterans and their families experience no inconvenience during their hospital stay.

Meanwhile, the presidential couple presented red ginseng gift sets as tokens of appreciation to the national merit recipients they met that day, as well as to approximately 8,800 veterans and their families currently hospitalized at veterans hospitals and designated medical institutions across the country.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.