Kwon Young-se, the chairman of the People Power Party’s emergency response committee, stated on the 15th anniversary of the Cheonan sinking incident that “the Cheonan incident is not a past event but an ongoing one,” and pledged to “work with the government to do our utmost to protect South Korea’s security.”
Following a memorial service for the 46 heroes of the Cheonan on the morning of the 26th at the Navy’s 2nd Fleet Command, Chairman Kwon met with reporters and noted, “Although the Cheonan incident occurred 15 years ago, North Korea continues to engage in various provocations, such as developing nuclear missiles.”
He added, “We pay our respects once again to the sacrifices and dedication of the Cheonan warriors and Warrant Officer Han Joo-ho, who died defending our West Sea and South Korea,” and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families who continue to bear the loss in their hearts despite the passage of time.
Regarding the national wildfire disaster, Chairman Kwon suggested, “I propose that all political circles halt political strife for the time being,” stating, “During the ongoing national crisis, at the very least, we should stop political conflict and unite in front of the people to overcome the disaster together.”
He continued, “Protecting the lives and property of the people, and rapidly restoring damages so that people can get back on their feet as soon as possible, is what the political community should do.”
He also stated, “The government and the ruling party will take the lead by example, and we will employ every possible means to alleviate the sorrow and suffering of the people, not by words but with actions,” adding that “we plan to ensure that support and measures related to the wildfires are implemented through a high-level party-government consultation meeting in a timely manner.”
Today, the 15th anniversary memorial service for the Cheonan sinking incident was attended by party leaders, including Chairman Kwon, Kim Sang-hoon, head of the policy committee, Lee Yang-soo, secretary-general, as well as lawmakers such as Seong Il-jong, the chairman of the National Defense Committee in the National Assembly, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min.