An event commemorating the first Korean military to cross the 38th parallel... Yangyangseo War Veterans Memorial

On Armed Forces Day, the 1st, a series of events were held in Yangyang, Gangwon-do to commemorate the first Korean army to break through the 38th parallel during the Korean War and to commemorate war veterans and patriotic heroes.

On this day, the Army's 3rd Corps held the 76th anniversary '38th Parallel Victory Commemoration Ceremony' at the 102nd Armored Brigade in Yangyang-gun.

About 220 people attended the event, including 35 veterans who participated in the operation to break through the 38th parallel in the area of ​​Gisamun-ri, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang-gun on October 1, 1950, members of the White Bone Comrades Association, Yangyang-gun Governor, heads of local veterans organizations, and soldiers.

Starting with a reception and welcoming ceremony for veterans, a moment of silence for the patriotic patriots and patriots, a parade for veterans, and a reading of a memoir by 93-year-old Ra Ki-seop, a representative of the veterans, were held.

At the event venue, 92 pieces of 46 types of main military equipment, including the K-9 self-propelled howitzer and the K1E1 tank, were displayed.

M1 carbine rifles, helmets, and canteens used by veterans during the Korean War were also displayed, showing the then and current Korean military in one place.

In his commemorative address, Kim Jong-mook, commander of the 3rd Corps, said, "Let us take deep into our hearts the military spirit and fighting spirit of our senior comrades and establish a solid military readiness posture that guarantees the freedom and peace of the Republic of Korea. This is our mission today and the most valuable reward we give to the heroes of our country."

On the same day, the '38th Parallel Breakthrough Memorial Ceremony for Patriotic Heroes' was held at the 38th parallel marker in Gisamun-ri, Hyeonbuk-myeon, hosted by the Gangwon-do Council for National Unification and organized by the Yangyang-gun Council for National Unification.

Attendees honored the souls of the patriotic spirits and reflected on the importance of freedom and peace through eulogies, sermons, and moments of silence.

Gisamun-ri is a historical site where South Korean and UN forces advanced north and broke through the 38th parallel during the Korean War.

In the war that began with North Korea's surprise invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950, the ROK and UN forces were pushed back to the Nakdong River defense line, but continued to advance north after the Incheon landing operation and the recovery of Seoul.

On October 1 of the same year, the South Korean army broke through the 38th parallel for the first time in the area of ​​Gisamun-ri, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang-gun, and the government designated October 1 as Armed Forces Day in 1956 to commemorate this.