To commemorate 'West Sea Defense Day', leading youth organizations of the Republic of Korea held an event titled 'Awakening the Taegeukgi' against the backdrop of the West Sea. 

On the 29th, from 3 PM to 5 PM, youth organizations FLD and Mincho Kyeolsadae held the citizen participation event 'Awakening the Taegeukgi' at Wolmi Culture Street in Incheon, a historic site of the Incheon Landing Operation, in observance of the 11th 'West Sea Defense Day'. 

"The Taegeukgi is fluttering in the wind." 

Members of the youth organizations brought several large Taegeukgi flags and offered passersby, including tourists, an opportunity to get close to the national flag by taking commemorative photos with it or by letting them wave it. 

A snapshot with the Taegeukgi! [Photo=Reporter Lim Yo-hee]

Participants of all ages, from children to the elderly, as well as foreign tourists who showed great interest, took part in the event, creating joyful memories with the Taegeukgi, the symbol of the Republic of Korea. 

Moon Tae-heon, leader of the FLD Honor Guard, stated about the 'Awakening the Taegeukgi' project, "We prepared this so that people who don't usually have the opportunity to see large Taegeukgi flags can take commemorative photos with the flag and upload them to social media on West Sea Defense Day at a meaningful location where the Incheon Landing Operation took place." He added, "We wanted to convey the message that the Taegeukgi is something any Korean citizen can hold up anywhere, anytime."

The sight of large Taegeukgi flags fluttering against the vast, blue West Sea filled onlookers with a sense of awe. 

Remember West Sea Defense Day! Let's not forget the Incheon Landing Operation!

'West Sea Defense Day' is a legal anniversary in the Republic of Korea to commemorate and honor the '55 Heroes of West Sea Defense' who sacrificed their lives fighting against North Korea's provocations in the West Sea. It is observed on the fourth Friday of March (March 27th this year). 

'Awakening the Taegeukgi' held at Wolmi Culture Street in Incheon, a historic site of the Incheon Landing Operation, to mark the 11th 'West Sea Defense Day'. [Photo=Reporter Lim Yo-hee]

Since 2000, there have been three major armed conflicts in the West Sea along the Northern Limit Line (NLL) due to North Korean provocations: the 'Second Battle of Yeonpyeong' (June 29, 2002), the 'Cheonan sinking' (March 26, 2010), and the 'shelling of Yeonpyeong Island' (November 23, 2010). 

The 'Second Battle of Yeonpyeong' occurred during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup when two North Korean patrol boats crossed the West Sea NLL and launched a surprise attack (shelling) on the ROK Navy's Chamsuri 357 patrol boat. The engagement resulted in six South Korean servicemen killed and 19 wounded. 

The 'Cheonan sinking' incident involved the sinking of the warship Cheonan (PCC-772) after it was hit by a North Korean midget submarine's torpedo attack in the waters southwest of Baengnyeong Island in the spring of 2010. The incident led to the deaths of 46 Cheonan crew members, and Lieutenant Commander Han Joo-ho died during the rescue operation, resulting in significant casualties. 

The 'shelling of Yeonpyeong Island' was an event in the fall of 2010 when North Korea indiscriminately fired dozens of rounds of coastal artillery towards Yeonpyeong Island, with shells landing even in civilian residential areas. This attack resulted in the deaths of two Marines and injuries to 16 others, as well as the deaths of two civilians. The shelling of Yeonpyeong Island was the first direct attack on civilians since the Korean War, and the Marines' immediate retaliatory fire after the North Korean shelling inflicted casualties on the North Korean military as well. 

For reference, the 'First Battle of Yeonpyeong' on June 15, 1999, can be seen as the origin of West Sea provocations, but events since the 2000s with significant casualties are referred to as West Sea provocations. West Sea Defense Day is designated based on the date of the 'Cheonan sinking,' which caused the greatest casualties.

Meanwhile, the Incheon Landing Operation, codenamed Operation Chromite, was a surprise amphibious landing operation by UN forces led by General Douglas MacArthur on September 15, 1950, when the Korean War was in a defensive phase. 

This operation was extremely risky, with a success rate described as one in 5,000 due to extreme tidal differences and narrow waterways. 

However, General MacArthur divided the landing into stages: Wolmi Island (Green Beach) in the morning and Incheon Port (Red Beach) and the southern coast (Blue Beach) in the afternoon. Two weeks after the successful operation, on September 28th, Seoul was recaptured, the main force of the North Korean army was destroyed, and a foothold was established to advance to the Yalu River. 

A monument marking the 'Incheon Landing Operation' stands at Wolmi Culture Street (Green Beach) in Incheon, where the operation was executed.

Reporter Lim Yo-hee