Fellow Koreans, men and women in uniform, distinguished guests,

I join all Koreans in a heartfelt celebration of the 64th anniversary of Armed Forces Day.

I bow my head low in profound reverence and gratitude to the souls of our fallen heroes, who sacrificed their lives protecting this country.

I am deeply grateful to Private First Class Jeon Gye-seon who is belatedly awarded the Order of Military Merit, Hwarang Medal, today for his distinguished service during the Korean War. I also honor the noble patriotic spirit of Madam Kim Jae-ok, who is posthumously awarded the Order of National Security Merit, Samil Medal.

My heartfelt appreciation also goes to Gen. Paik Sun-yup and other retired military elders, who helped found the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and enhanced the honor of the military, as well as veterans and bereaved families, who have endured so many difficulties with genuine love for the country.

Proud members of the Armed Forces,

Four years ago right herewe resolved to create an advanced, mighty and elite military.

Our determination has grown even stronger in the wake of the torpedoing of the Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island by the North.

Armed with greater determination, our military has channeled all efforts into defense reform for a complete overhaul by exhaustively reviewing all sectors ranging from strategic concept to force structure.

In line with changes in how war is fought and the security situation, the Northwest Islands Defense Command, the Cyber Warfare Command and the Joint Forces Military University have been newly established. In addition, the combat capabilities of battalion-level units have been reinforced.

Through such endeavors, our Armed Forces are being reborn into combat-ready forces capable of fighting to win based on jointness; the three branches of the military are drawing on each other’s expertise and doubling the synergy of integrated fighting power.

We are also preparing for the transfer of wartime operational control scheduled for 2015 by securing hi-tech core combat systems, including airborne early warning and control aircraft, Aegis destroyers, a new type of submarines and precision-guided rockets.

At the time of the founding of the Armed Forces, Korea was not even able to make a rifle, but the country has now turned into a defense industry powerhouse exporting cutting-edge technology for developing tanks as well as such state-of-the-art weapons as the supersonic advanced trainer jet and submarines.

Notably, it is very significant that Korea became the sixth country in the world to export supersonic aircraft by selling its 16 indigenous T-50 trainer jets to Indonesia.

The Armed Forces have also put extensive efforts into improving the welfare of service members and improving the barracks culture for rank-and-file soldiers.

Thanks to your hard work for defense reform, our Armed Forces have now become stronger than ever, and everyone can go about their lives with a sense of security and concentrate on overcoming global economic crises.

Recently, the three major international credit rating agencies raised Korea’s sovereign ratings one after another, which is unprecedented in any country around the world.

In particular, no expert had predicted that Korea’s sovereign ratings would rise higher than Japan''s, which is far more advanced in industrialization than Korea.

All these accomplishments were made possible because all Koreans came together and worked hard.

Our Armed Forces have also played greater roles than at any time before. The international credit ratings companies cited Korea’s solid security readiness, which assures peace on the Korean Peninsula, as one of the reasons why they upgraded the country’s ratings.

On behalf of all Korean people, I extend my appreciation to the officers and men and women in uniform who remain committed to safeguarding our country on the frontline and at sea.

Members of the Armed Forces,

Now the ROK Armed Forces are growing into a military that makes contributions to the international community, thereby enhancing national prestige in foreign lands and at sea far away from home.

Through the splendid feat of Operation Dawn in the Gulf of Aden, the Armed Forces fully demonstrated what advanced, mighty Armed
Forces are all about by going to the ends of the earth to protect the lives and properties of our citizens.

The Ashena Unit, Cheonghae Unit, Dongmyung Unit, Danbi Unit and Akh Unit are safeguarding peace in every nook and cranny of the world and are reaching out helping hands with a warm heart to the people in nations, which have been ravaged by war or are suffering from natural disasters.

On top of this, Korea will soon dispatch a peacekeeping contingent to the Republic of South Sudan in Africa.

Wherever the members of the Armed Forces go, they are more profoundly welcomed by local governments and residents than any other troops for their strict and well-disciplined attitude and devoted services. They are rated the best.

They are the very protagonists who are etching cherished memories of Korea in the hearts of many people across the globe, spearheading the efforts to build a greater Republic of Korea.

All Korean people, including myself, are very proud of the men and women in uniform.

I would also like to pay a compliment to the ROK Air Force Black Eagles demonstration team for contributing to raising Korea’s status in the sky.

For the first time, the team participated in two international air shows held in the United Kingdom in July with the homemade T-50 supersonic advanced trainer. It was chosen as the best team in the world by winning the grand prix at the two air shows with its high-level maneuvers and impeccable teamwork. 

This splendid achievement well illustrated both the extraordinary capabilities of the Armed Forces and the excellence of the T-50 trainer on the global stage.

Befitting Korea’s continuously growing roles in the international community, the Armed Forces have to further expand the areas of its activities and make contributions to global peace and security. By doing so, it must grow into a military that deserves respect from the peoples of other nations.  

Men and women in uniform,

There still remain many obstacles to be tackled before the Armed Forces become an advanced, mighty and elite military in a genuine sense. A raft of challenges lies ahead of us.

North Korea is still pursuing the development of nuclear weapons and missiles.

The Northeast Asian region is facing both opportunity and crisis. Although the region is emerging as the center of the global economy and politics in the 21st century, political conflicts and military tensions are building up due to different perceptions of history and issues surrounding territories and claims to sovereignty.

As a result, the security environment is in a state of flux and becoming increasingly unstable.

At a time when the axis of the world is shifting and the order in Northeast Asia is being reestablished, Korea is about to take over wartime operational control.

To surmount these challenges and safeguard peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, more than anything else, the ROK Armed Forces have to serve as an unwavering foundation of security.

As part of efforts to prepare for the new security environment, the national defense reform has to be continued so that the Armed Forces will be reborn as an organization that is lightweight, agile and efficient and is supported by robust fundamentals. 

In preparation for the return of wartime operational control, the Korean Armed Forces must bolster combined defense abilities under its initiative.

We have to keep abreast of the changes likely to take place in future wars. They may well be described as a “hybrid war” in that they will be a combination of conventional war, non-military confrontation and high-tech war based on science and technology.

Accordingly, we need to optimize the balance between high-tech war capability and fundamental war power. We need to build practical military power so that various units will unleash their strengths to the fullest in a balanced manner.

High-tech weaponry alone does not guarantee strong leading armed forces.

I urge you to be fully equipped with resilient spiritual power and determination to safeguard the state at all costs. In this way, you will build a leading, mighty force that protects peace on the Korean Peninsula.

As there is no end to the responsibility for taking care of the everyday lives of the people, there can be no end to the effort to maintain the security of the country.

The people and Armed Forces of the Republic surely understand the fervent wishes of the 46 sailors who were martyred in the navy ship Cheonan incident. On that occasion, the Korean Navy and Armed Forces renewed their determination. We will respond sternly to any provocations against us.

Fellow Koreans,

On this Armed Forces Day, I would like to pay my special tribute once more to Air Force Colonel Oh Chung-hyun who died in 2010.

I could not help but cry after reading his diary written in December 1992 after the passing of a fellow pilot. I believe many citizens would have shed tears as well.

In his diary, Colonel Oh expressed the wish that his family would maintain composure and restraint should he die in the course of duty. He explained that such behavior is necessary to keep the honor of a soldier.

He also emphasized that any military compensation issue should not compromise the great cause of a soldier. He continued, “Soldiers should always think about having loyalty to the country. The world might change and become corrupt, but a soldier should be willing to sacrifice him or herself for the sake of the homeland.”

Colonel Oh was a fine role model for all the men and women in uniform and consequently inspired the general public to have complete trust in the Armed Forces.

His genuine love of the Republic must live on in the hearts of young men and women and officers in particular who represent the new security-minded generation.

Many ethnic Koreans living in foreign countries as citizens and permanent residents there voluntarily return to Korea to serve in the Korean military, and their number has exceeded one thousand.

Watching those young people, my confidence in the future of the Armed Forces and the nation grows ever stronger.

The military has always been on the side of the Korean people. In the summer, when typhoons wreaked havoc throughout the country, the men and women in uniform rushed to the scenes and engaged in relief work quietly and intensely.

The military is the staunch guardian of our nation protecting the territory of the Republic. The Armed Forces are the trusted friend of the people that safeguards their safety and lives.

I urge all the citizens to support the people in uniform so that we will have a mighty Armed Forces and greater Republic of Korea.
At this very moment, our soldiers are engaged in national defense armed with passionate patriotism, and I am grateful to every member of the Korean Armed Forces.

Today the Korean people can sleep comfortably because the military is fully alert.

At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere gratitude to the USFK personnel who came to this country to defend peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Finally I wish each member of the Korean Armed Forces and all the participants here good health and happiness.

Thank you very much.