Diplomacy Journal Kim Tae Yeon | President Lee Jae-myung visits Yeonpyeong Unit for President of the Republic of Korea for the first time in 14 years… Lee says, “Thanks to your sacrifices, the people enjoy a comfortable daily living.”

On June 24, President Lee Jae-myung visited the Republic of Korea Marine Corps Yeonpyeong Unit to encourage the personnel defending the national security in a remote frontline area and to inspect their readiness.

This was the first visit by the President of the Republic of Korea to the Yeonpyeong Unit in 14 years since 2012, making it a meaningful schedule in which he personally expressed gratitude for the soldiers' dedication and his commitment to national defense innovation.
According to Kang Yoo-jung, spokesperson for the Office of the President, President Lee arrived at the Yeonpyeong Unit, received a warm welcome from the soldiers, posed for a commemorative photo with them, and inspected key firepower equipment including the K9A1 self-propelled howitzer, the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, the K1E1 tank, and Spike missiles.

After receiving a briefing on the operational status of the equipment, President Lee showed deep interest not only in the performance and operational systems of each weapon but also in the achievements of defense exports.
In particular, he personally boarded the K9A1 self-propelled howitzer, which is recognized for its high competitiveness in the global defense market, to verify its superior performance and observe the soldiers' mission execution.

Approximately 80 Marine Corps officers and soldiers attended the subsequent luncheon meeting. President Lee lightened the mood by jokingly asking, "I tried to visit a few months ago, but the weather was bad, so I only sent fried chicken. Did you enjoy it?" To this, the soldiers enthusiastically replied, "Yes, sir. We really enjoyed it." President Lee expressed his gratitude, stating, "Thanks to your sacrifices and dedication, the people in the Republic of Korea are enjoying a peaceful daily life." He then declared that he would actively devise feasible measures to improve the welfare of soldiers, noting, "It is only fair that those who make special sacrifices receive special rewards."

He then emphasized, "Military service must not be merely a period of time, but a time to cultivate expertise in handling advanced weapons and equipment," and added, "I will try to innovate the military system so that the capabilities acquired in the military can become a competitive edge in society after retirement."

President Lee said, "I will try to build a future-oriented military service system by gradually transitioning from a conscription-centered system to a voluntary recruitment-centered one, so that the military can be chosen as a professional career."

During the meeting, officers and men disclosed their daily inconveniences and made recommendations for improvement to the President.

Private First Class Ryu Seung-jae requested the installation of a pulldown and leg extension machines, citing the aging equipment in the fitness center. President Lee immediately promised, "I will make sure to take care of this and send them right away," and instructed National Security Advisor Wi Sung-rak to take relevant action. The soldiers requested improvements to aging barracks plumbing and restrooms, an expansion of live-fire training, and the priority deployment of officers to Yeonpyeong Island.

Sergeant Noh Young-rae, who is about to be discharged, drew laughter by requesting a performance for his successors, remarking, "The Defense TV 'Comfort Train' has never visited Yeonpyeong Island."
In response, President Lee instructed Minister of National Defense Ahn Kyu-baek to review the relevant plans.
Furthermore, addressing Staff Sergeant Ahn Woo-hee, who raised the issue of insufficient medical support, President Lee urged the Ministry of National Defense to expand mobile medical services and strengthen medical support, noting that "difficulties in public and regional healthcare are also affecting the military."

Following the meeting, President Lee moved to the firing range to observe firearms training. He then became the first president in history to fire a K2A1 automatic rifle and a K15 machine gun loaded with live ammunition.

In particular, during the K2A1 automatic rifle firing, he formed a stable bullet grouping, receiving applause from the soldiers.

As his final schedule, President Lee visited the Yeonpyeong Peace Observatory to receive a briefing on the defense status of the West Sea islands and toured the waters off the North Korean side and the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

In particular, President Lee closely observed Chinese fishing vessels operating off the coast of Yeonpyeong Island and asked detailed questions regarding the current location, scale, and fishing conditions in the West Sea.

When National Security Advisor Wi Sung-rak explained, "There are possibilities of accidental clashes between the South Korea and North Korea during the crackdown on Chinese fishing vessels near the NLL," President Lee instructed, "We must prevent a situation where Chinese vessels, not North Korean vessels, provoke conflict near the NLL." Then he added, "We cannot simply stand by and watch the problem of illegal fishing that harms our fishermen. Please actively try to find a solution."

This visit to the Yeonpyeong Unit by President Lee is evaluated as an itinerary that boosted the morale of frontline soldiers and demonstrated the government's commitment to military modernization, improving the soldier welfare, and strengthening security posture in the West Sea.