President Lee Jae Myung Visits Troops Wounded in Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Land Mine Blast: "Ensure They Receive Due Recognition"

[Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung visited troops wounded in a land mine blast in the DMZ on the 30th and promised support not only for their treatment and rehabilitation but also for their continued military service. He urged officials to "ensure that the wounded service members receive due recognition and compensation."
Kim Seong-wan, a Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson, said in a written briefing that Lee visited the Armed Forces Capital Hospital that morning to console the wounded service members and their families. The chief of staff, the director of the National Security Office and the first deputy director of national security accompanied him.
Lee asked officials whether adequate compensation was provided when service members were injured during operations. He emphasized, "When wounded personnel do not receive sufficient recognition, it directly affects military morale, so please make sure this is addressed."
The service members who met Lee in their hospital rooms expressed gratitude to their comrades, saying, "We were able to survive because our operation team became one." They added, "We want to serve the country wherever and in whatever position we are needed," expressing their desire to continue their military service after recovering. Lee urged them to focus fully on their recovery.
Lee also met with the families and heard about their difficulties. The families complained that many people were exploiting the wounded service members to incite others and spread conspiracy theories, making things difficult, and asked him to set the record straight, Kim said.
The visit was conducted without any photography or filming. Officials explained that the measure reflected the families' concerns that publicly released photographs could hurt the wounded service members' young children.
The land mine blast occurred on the 21st as South Korean service members were conducting a search operation in the DMZ. Two service members suffered serious injuries, while one sustained minor injuries.
The Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (ROK JCS) said the accident was caused by a North Korean mine and called on North Korea to apologize and take responsible action. The United Nations Command (UNC) also said its field investigation found one North Korean mine south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and concluded that the incident constituted a violation of the Armistice Agreement.
Kim Yo Jong, director of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK)'s General Affairs Department, denied the South Korean military's claim that the accident was caused by a North Korean mine, calling it "an obvious self-staged incident" in a statement issued that day.
[email protected] Seong Seok-woo Reporter