By Shin Eun-seo, 4th-year ROTC student of the Department of Military Science, Dongshin University

In June, we face the Day of the Volunteer Army on the 1st, Memorial Day on the 6th, Bongodong Battle Victory Day on the 7th, the Day of the Korean War on the 25th, the anniversary of the passing of Kim Gu on the 26th, the Month of Patriotism and Remembrance with the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong on the 29th. 

It is a month to commemorate the fallen patriots and honor the spirits of our homeland, engraving their significance in our hearts.

Among them, do you have a clear understanding of the Korean War, also known as the 6.25 War?

The Korean War was a conflict that broke out on June 25, 1950, when the North Korean communist forces illegally invaded across the 38th parallel, the military demarcation line between North and South Korea.

During the war, there were our heroes who silently walked their path, step by step, for the freedom and peace of the Republic of Korea. How many people truly commemorate the sacrifice of these patriots?

We must honor their noble sacrifice and great dedication, ensuring that their footsteps were not in vain, and protect today's Republic of Korea. There are countless things we can do to safeguard our country, and even starting with small acts is enough to reaffirm our love for the nation, raising the flag of Taegukgi early and cherishing the spirit of the fallen patriots.

Furthermore, as the saying goes, "A nation that forgets its history has no future." We must inscribe this history in our hearts and live in a way that prevents it from repeating. Your small actions, combined with others, protect history and lead the nation.

Now, 73 years after the Korean War, our military is still putting in blood, sweat, and tears, including the excavation of remains, to return fallen heroes to their long-awaited families. Not only that, but it is also important to assist the national merit recipients who still remember the horrors of those days. They require more social attention and respect as they have dedicated themselves for the nation, and we must continue to repay their sacrifice and dedication.

Furthermore, July 27 is the United Nations (UN) Korean War Veterans Day, a day to honor the sacrifices and contributions of UN veterans. This year, 2023, marks the 70th anniversary of the armistice agreement.

We must remember the sacrifice and dedication of the 1.95 million UN veterans from 22 countries who gave their lives for the Republic of Korea. "To the sons and daughters of the United States who responded to the nation's call to protect a country they do not know, people they have never met, the United States pays its respects." These are the famous words engraved in the Korean War Memorial Park in Washington, D.C.

Could someone sacrifice their sweat and blood solely for the freedom and peace of a country that is not their own? If not for the help of the UN, the Republic of Korea might have disappeared from the world map and its history. However, if a nation's citizens lack the will and dedication to protect themselves, foreign forces alone cannot defend that country.

Thanks to the strong determination of the South Korean government, the military, and the people to protect the nation, the Republic of Korea managed to survive. In addition, based on the ROK-U.S. alliance, South Korea achieved remarkable economic development known as the "Miracle on the Han River." 

From being the poorest country in the world in 1953 with a per capita national income of only $67, South Korea has grown to become the 10th largest economy in the world with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $1.810 trillion in 2022.

However, in this situation, North Korea is still threatening South Korea directly and indirectly through numerous provocations and nuclear development in the guise of a two-faced war. The ROK military needs to be able to respond to these provocations and become a winner in the ground war through realistic training. 

In addition, we must maintain our tangible and intangible combat capabilities to prepare for future warfare in a rapidly changing security environment and deter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. 

In addition, we must build a strong defense force that can protect the Republic of Korea based on the U.S.-ROK alliance and strive to realize self-defense.