“Chilgok, You Are My Peace!”
Chilgok, North Kyungsang Province, was a place where a total
of 55 day-long desperate battle took place, defended by bloody fights during
the Korean War period.
So for many Korean War veterans, Chilgok remain as a memory of the
final defense line on the Nakdong River which was formed, starting
from Waegwan during the sizzling, hot summer days of 67 years ago,
the moment of desperate crisis with the remaining 5% of unoccupied territory of Korea.
In order to experience such moments at that time, over 30 diplomatic
community including Spain Amb. Gonzalo Ortiz Diez-Tortosa as dean of the visiting diplomatic members, Sri Lanka Amb.
Manisha Gunasekera in addition to many senior diplomats attended
the 5th Nakdong River World Peace Culture Festival by the invitation
of Chilgok County on last Friday, Sep. 22nd with KTX train from Seoul.
Hosted by the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea,
Gyeongsang buk-do Province, and Chilgok County, the Nakdong River World Peace
Culture Festival has been taken place annually during last 5 consecutive
years as a reminder of Chilgok’s will in defending our country. As many as 160,000 soldiers from the
Allied Forces were dead, missing or wounded in action from the fierce
Nakdong River battles, according to Chilgok County.
Officials from Chilgok County say: “We still remember the sacrifices of
those who devoted their lives to defend the peace and freedom of the
world in a faraway foreign country, of which they hadn’t even known the name”.
Upon arriving at the Seokjeok Administration Center, Chilgok for their
welcome luncheon, visiting diplomatic community were greeted by
Chilgok County governor Baek Seon-gi with their dedicated officials.
By his luncheon remarks, Baek said that with the attendance of
diplomatic community from the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. this year’s Nakdong River World Peace Culture Festival will be a venue of more
meaningful festival.
As capacity of visiting diplomatic community dean,
Spain Amb. Gonzalo Oritz said on behalf of all visiting members: “We
ambassadors and senior diplomats understand that Chilgok is a venue
which preserves a battle history to demonstrate that this place was
last fortress to protect the Republic of Korea from crisis”. (See the
excertps of Spain Amb. Gonzalo Ortiz at the end of this article!) Sri
Lanka Amb. Manisha Gunasekera presented an appreciation plague on
Chilgok County Baik on behalf of all visiting diplomatic community.
As the second part of welcome events, there were Chilgok county’s “Eeromsani” performances and the performance of Korean dance
‘Mugukpi Arirang’, creature of Star Cruteam in addition to traditional
Korean music performance of Korean Folk Music Association Chilgok.
After the luncheon, visiting diplomatic community dropped by Chilgok
Patriots Peace Memorial in which they were able to see Black Eagles
Air Show Skydiving in addition to experiencing 4G battle games etc.
As experience programs, visitors including diplomatic community were
able to experience combat to defend Korea during the Korean War,
playing a soldier in action from those days at the full-sized open set which reenacts the Nakdong River Defense Line of 67 years ago.
For its official opening ceremony which was held at the beautiful Chilgok
Weir, many dignitaries graced the venue including Governor Kim Kwan-yong from Kyungsang Buk-do Province, deputy minister Seo Ju-seok from the MND, Promotion Committee chairman Chang In-hee of the 5th Nakdong River World Culture Festival, Chilgok County
mayor Baek Seon-ki in addition to assemblymen from both Kyungsank Buk-do and Chilgok Council.
Declaring the official opening of the 5th Nakdong River World Peace
Culture Festival at the podium, Promotion Committee chairman Chang In-hee expected that with the integration of the Nakdong River World
Culture Festival and the 8th Victory Ceremony of Nakdong River Battle,
diverse synergy effect will be created to attract more tourists.
Emphasizing its catchphrase once more that Childok is my peace, Chilgok
county governor Baek said that he believes it to be more meaningful that non-governmental, governmental and military were united to create a new
format of the Nakdong River World Culture Festival.
Governor Kim Kwan-yong from Kyungsang Buk-do stressed that with united might, we will keep valuable peace on the
Korean peninsular from the crisis of recent North Korea nuclear weapons
and missile provovation launchings like past Chilgok protected the
Republic of Korea from the crisis of a light before the wind.
On behalf of the military, deputy minister Seo Ju-seok from MND (the Ministry of National Defense) underlind the
importance of the overwhelming military power to keep peace on
the peninsular and Rep. Lee Wan-young said that nuclear must be tackled with nuclear in a nutshell.
Last but not least, Minister Pi Woo-jin from the Ministry of Patriots & Veteran Affairs sent her message
through a videoclip that the Nakdong River World Culture Festival is
an important festival which provides younger generations with an
valuable opportunity to awaken the importance of freedom democracy.
The followings are return remarks by H.E. Gonzalo Ortiz Diez-Tortosa,
Spain Amb.
during the welcome ceremony at Chilgok. -Ed.
Honorable Chilgok County Govenor Baek Seon-ki
Nakdong River World Peace Culture Festival Propulsion Committee
chairman Chang In-hee,
First of all, on behalf of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. as well as visiting
Diplomatic Community, I as Spain Amb. to the Republic of Korea would
like to express our sincere appreciation for inviting us to the 5th
Nakdong River World Peace Culture Festival which will be held
to show peace’s message all over the world in Chilgok.
We ambassadors & senior diplomats heard that Chilgok was a place
where during the Korean War period, a fierce battle during 55 days
took place from Aug. 1 until Sep. 24. So Chikgok is a venue which
preserves a battle history to demonstrate that this place was last
fortress to protect the Republic of Korea such as Waegwan railway
bridge explosion, Jago Mountain 328 high ground hand-to-hand fighting, and last but not least Yuhak Mountain battle. etc.
In that regard, we ambassadors & senior diplomats who took part
in the famtour of the 5th Nakdong River World Peace Culture Festival,
value highly for the efforts of Chikgok County which wants to spread
valuable peace message in order to awaken the importance of
freedom democracy which protected the Republic of Korea from crisis.
We ambassadors & senior diplomats send our full support for the
efforts of Chilgok County which wishes to disseminate peace message
toward the world by preparing a festive ground praying peace
settlement of global village and on the Korean peninsular.
Thank you.