North Gyeongsang Province, Chilgok-gun hold memorial for Gen. Paik Sun-yup on 6th death anniversary

North Gyeongsang Province and Chilgok-gun held a memorial ceremony Friday for the late Gen. Paik Sun-yup (1920–2020) at the Dabudong Battle Memorial in Chilgok-gun, marking the sixth anniversary of his death.

About 250 people attended, including Paik Nam-hee, the general's eldest daughter and newly inaugurated chairwoman of the Paik Sun-yup Foundation; North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Cheol-woo; Chilgok-gun Mayor Kim Jae-wook; Kim Kwan-jin, honorary chairman of the foundation; Gen. Kim Ho-bok, commander of the Second Operations Command; Gen. Kim Seong-min, deputy commander of the Combined Forces Command (CFC); Jin H. Pak, commander of the US Army 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command; Korean War veterans; and heads of veterans' organizations across the province.

Gen. Paik is widely regarded as one of South Korea's foremost war heroes. He led the victorious defense at the Battle of Dabudong — the fiercest engagement of the Korean War and the last line of defense along the Naktong River front — and spearheaded the recapture of Pyongyang, serving on the front lines from the outbreak of the war until the armistice was signed.

Attendees laid flowers and offered incense at the Monument to the Souls of Patriots within the memorial grounds, paying their respects to Gen. Paik and the fallen who gave their lives for the nation.

In his memorial address, North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Cheol-woo said Gen. Paik's life "was a history of saving the nation at a moment of existential crisis," adding that he "laid the firm foundation for the freedom and prosperity we enjoy today."