On June 5, the Justice Ministry's Correctional Headquarters, led by Lee Hong-yeon, visited the "Memorial Tower for Fallen Correctional Officers" at the Seoul Southern Correctional Facility to pay tribute and honor the spirits of the deceased.
The event, held in recognition of the sacrifices made by correctional officers who lost their lives in service to the nation and its citizens, included the participation of families of the fallen officers, adding to its significance.
The memorial tower was established in June 2023 to honor the 167 correctional officers who died during the Korean War, and the Correctional Headquarters has continued to hold annual memorial events since then.
During the ceremony, Woo Jun-sik, grandson of the late Woo Hak-jong, former director of the Kaesong Youth Detention Center, expressed gratitude for the annual remembrance and hoped that the honor of correctional officers would be preserved.
Song Young-sam, president of the Korea Correctional Officers' Association, emphasized the noble sacrifices of their predecessors and called for amendments to the National Cemetery Act to ensure that correctional officers, like military personnel, police, and firefighters, can be buried in national cemeteries without discrimination.
Lee Hong-yeon, head of the Correctional Headquarters, stated, "We will never forget the spirit of sacrifice of our fallen correctional officers," offering condolences to the families and pledging to do his utmost to uphold the pride and honor of correctional officers.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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