Marine Corps Revisits 76-Year Journey to Recapture Seoul: "A Wave of Taegeukgi Flags Stretching from Wolmido Island to Seoul Plaza"

[Financial News] On the 15th, the tactical Taegeukgi that left the hands of a veteran at Wolmido Plaza, the site of a ceremony commemorating victory in the Incheon Landing Operation, was finally hoisted in the heart of Seoul after being carried in relay by ROK and U.S. Marine personnel. Marine Corps Headquarters successfully held the 76th Anniversary Victory Commemoration Ceremony for the Recapture of Seoul at Seoul Plaza on the 19th, with support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Marine Corps veterans' association. The event served as the highlight of the Marine Corps' September victory commemoration journey, which began in late August and continued through Jeju Province and Incheon Metropolitan City before reaching Seoul. It was assessed as having revisited the sacrifices of war heroes through a quantitative narrative.■ The Taegeukgi from the Incheon Landing Operation to the Flag-Raising Ceremony for the Recapture of SeoulThe event commemorated Operation Recapture of Seoul, a symbolic military operation that restored South Korea's national sovereignty by recapturing the capital more than 90 days after the outbreak of the Korean War. Approximately 2,000 people attended, including Joo Il-seok, Commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps; Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul; National Assembly member Yoo Yong-won; Xavier T. Brunson, commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command; Kim Sung-min, deputy commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command; military attachés from countries that participated in the Korean War; and local residents.
The clearest distinguishing feature highlighted in this article was the Taegeukgi relay performance at the center of the event. The Taegeukgi that appeared at Seoul Plaza that day was a historic asset directly handed over on the 15th by Korean War veteran Moon Sang-seon, a fourth-term Marine, to Second Lieutenant Yoo Hyun-seok, platoon leader of the 6th Company, 12th Battalion. ROK and U.S. Marine personnel and veterans' association members carefully carried the flag from Wolmido Island to Seoul Plaza. At the venue, it was passed from the platoon leader to the veteran, then to Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and finally to the Marine Corps honor guard, which promptly hoisted it to demonstrate the commitment to defending peace at home and abroad.■ A Veteran's Recollection: "What We Defended Was Not a Patch of Land but the Lives and Freedom of the People"The ceremony proceeded in an orderly sequence: the flags of the 22 countries that participated in the Korean War entered the venue, attendees watched a video briefing on the course of the war, and congratulatory performances followed. In particular, the vivid, fact-based recollections delivered by fourth-term Marine veteran Moon Sang-seon after taking the podium left a profound impression on the troops in attendance.
In his recollections, Moon said, "Many comrades shed tears when they saw the Taegeukgi flying over the central government building at the time. They were not tears of joy alone. It was because they remembered the comrades who had left us." He continued, "What we defended was not merely a patch of land. It was the lives and freedom of the people of the Republic of Korea, as well as our future." He urged the nation to remember forever the sacrifices of the Marines who came before them.
In his commemorative address, Commandant Joo Il-seok also said, "The history of the recapture of Seoul reminds us today that the freedom and prosperity of the Republic of Korea were made possible by the sacrifices and dedication of unsung heroes." He pledged to carry on the noble spirit of patriotic devotion and loyalty to the nation shown by the Marines who came before them.■ Marine Corps September Victory Commemoration Journey Linking Jeju Province, Incheon Metropolitan City and Seoul ConcludesAccording to the Marine Corps Public Affairs Office, military authorities successfully completed all events in the Marine Corps September Victory Commemoration Events, which had been held across Jeju Province, Incheon Metropolitan City and Seoul since August 29, with the Seoul event marking the finale.
Going beyond a routine commemorative event, the military also organized a Marine Corps photo exhibition, security-experience programs and promotional booths, achieving results in integrated civil-military security education. The Marine Corps plans to further develop major victory commemoration events, honor the military achievements of Korean War veterans and elevate the spirit of national defense into a standardized national-security asset.
The Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) is an elite force with formidable size and combat power, ranking among the world's most capable military organizations. It is a large, corps-level national strategic maneuver force comprising two frontline divisions—the 1st and 2nd Divisions—and two independent brigades—the 6th Brigade and Yeonpyeong Unit. The ROKMC operates Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicles (KAAVs) and high-speed landing craft to conduct multidimensional amphibious surprise operations by sea and air. Through its Marine Corps Aviation Group, including Marineon helicopters, it is also strengthening its independent aerial mobility and amphibious-operation capabilities.
The ROKMC is currently pursuing organizational and force enhancements toward a "quasi-four-service system" that would give it authority equal to that of the Army, Navy and Air Force while maintaining its affiliation with the Navy and strengthening its organic ties to the service.




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