By benchmarking the Normandy Landing Operation
The Incheon Metropolitan Government plans to re-examine the historical significance of the Incheon Landing Operation and carry out a large-scale project to commemorate the Incheon Landing Operation starting next year.
Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, who is on a business trip abroad, visited the Normandy landing operation site on November 13 (local time) and said, "We will upgrade the Incheon Landing Operation commemorative project to the level of a national event to make it an international venue for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula."
The Normandy Caen Memorial Hall, the first stop on his overseas business trip, is related to Mayor Yoo's plan to upgrade the Incheon Landing Operation celebration event to a national-level international event and develop it into a global festival.
At the 72nd anniversary celebration of the Incheon Landing Operation on Sept. 15, Mayor Yoo expressed his ambition to develop the Incheon Landing Operation into an event comparable to France's Normandy Landing Operation and make it a cornerstone of the second Incheon Landing Operation that opens a better Korea tomorrow.
The Normandy Landing Operation, which turned the war situation in World War II, and the Incheon Landing Operation, which not only served as a stepping stone to recapture the capital, Seoul, but also played a crucial role in surrounding and collapsing the main North Korean troops on the Nakdong-gang River front, are considered monumental operations that changed the history of the 20th century.
However, unlike the Normandy Landing Operation ceremony, where leaders of more than 20 countries gather every year to hold reconciliation and diplomacy, the Incheon Landing Operation commemoration ceremony is only an event to invite veterans and bereaved families.
Incheon City plans to enhance Incheon's status by re-examining the Incheon Landing Operation, which changed the aspect of the war 72 years ago and made a history of victory, and to recreate Incheon's miracle based on Incheon's potential and competitiveness.
On the same day, Mayor Yoo met with Caen Mayor Joel Bruno and invited a delegation from Caen City to Incheon City to develop a project to commemorate the landing operation that shone in the world war.
In response, Mayor Joel Bruno accepted the invitation and responded, "As tourism of memory and remembrance is important for all generations, we will actively cooperate in the projects with Incheon City." In addition, Mayor Bruno invited Incheon City to an event celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landing operation in 2024.
Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok said, "The Incheon Landing Operation has historical significance and value in defending global liberal democracy like the Normandy Landing Operation," adding, "We will gradually expand the size and duration of the Incheon Landing Operation commemoration project from next year to develop it into an international event with the leaders and veterans of all countries."
He also added that the value of the Incheon Landing Operation, which is shared globally, will serve as the basis for Incheon's leap into a top-tier global city.