The parade commemorated the 75th anniversary

President Yoon declares on the ROK Armed Forces Day on 

“I deep thank the U.S. and our 15 other allies who defended us!”

By Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik, VCs Joy Cho, Cho Nam-suk
President Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea declared, “I deeply thank the parents, wives and husbands, sons and daughters of the United States Armed Forces and the all member states of the countries who fought on the side of the Republic of defend us from the unprovoked attack and invations started by the North Korean regime and its allies!”

Speaking on the occasion of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces Day on Sept. 27, 2023, Yoon then said, “I am so grateful to the armd forces of the 15 other countries who bravely fought for the defense of our freedom and democracy at our battle field.”

Yoon especially noted the water-tight alliance between Korea and the U.S. “forged through the 70-year-long history of the ROK-U.S. Alliance.”

President Yoon also awarded U.S. Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR) with the ROK Presidential Unit Citation, the highest unit honor that the ROK President can bestow on a military unit. The award dates back to 1950 during the Korean War.

On that day, the Republic of Korea and the United States also held an Armed Forces Day parade in the vicinity of Seongnam’s Seoul Air Base (K-16) in Gyeonggi Province.

The parade commemorated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces on the theme of “Strong Military, Strong Security and Peace Through Strength.”

During the event, President Yoon expressed his gratitude and commented on the strength of the ROK-US Alliance.

“I also deeply thank the parents, wives and husbands, sons and daughters who silently dedicate themselves to supporting our service members, as well as members of the United States Forces Korea and their families who have contributed to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and together with us forged the 70-year-long history of the ROK-U.S. Alliance.”

President Yoon then awarded U.S. Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR) the ROK Presidential Unit Citation, the highest unit honor that the ROK president can bestow on a military unit. The award dates back to 1950 during the Korean War.

More than 300 U.S. service men and women participated in the event, which included a large-scale military procession and military equipment displays. In addition, foreign veterans of the Korean War and their families were in attendance.

The last time a similar display of military strength was held in South Korea was in 2013, to mark the 65th Armed Forces Day event.

Text of the address by President Yoon Suk-yeol:

My fellow Koreans, our men and women in uniform, distinguished guests,

I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the 75th Armed Forces Day.

I am deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of our men and women in uniform who are fulfilling their duty to defend our country’s land, sea and air at this very moment.

I would also like to thank our service members who are deployed in distant foreign countries, devoting themselves to promoting world peace.

In addition, I would like to express my profound respect and gratitude to our fallen heroes as well as the founding members of our military, our veterans and reservists who defended the freedom of our nation.

I also deeply thank the parents, wives and husbands, sons and daughters who silently dedicate themselves to supporting our service members as well as members of the United States Forces Korea and their families who have contributed to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and together with us forged the 70-year-long history of the ROK-U.S. alliance. 

President Yoon Suk Yeol on the morning of Sept. 26

Inspects the Republic of Korea Armed Forces while riding a presidential limousine at a ceremony for the 75th Armed Forces Day at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do Province. A military parade in downtown Seoul was also held in the afternoon with personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps participating going from Sungnyemun Gate to Gwanghwamun Gate.