SEOUL – During a ceremony marking France’s national day, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik committed to bolstering solidarity with France and other like-minded nations, his office announced on Friday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the pledge was made at the Bastille Day event hosted by the French Embassy and the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held on Seoul's Sebitseom artificial islands. Shin emphasized South Korea's role in defending the free world against aggressive forces and pledged to strengthen alliances with countries that share similar values, including France. "The Republic of Korea is serving as a bulwark to defend the free world against forces that attempt to change the status quo by force, and (we) will further strengthen solidarity with value-sharing countries, such as France, to protect the peace and stability of the free world," he stated.

The event also paid tribute to the French military personnel who served during the Korean War, particularly the late Capt. Robert Goupil. The ceremony was notably attended by 170 cadets from France’s Saint-Cyr Military Academy and over 100 South Korean cadets, with the French group belonging to the class named after Capt. Goupil, who lost his life in the conflict.

SEOUL – During a ceremony marking France’s national day, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik committed to bolstering solidarity with France and other like-minded nations, his office announced on Friday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the pledge was made at the Bastille Day event hosted by the French Embassy and the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held on Seoul's Sebitseom artificial islands. Shin emphasized South Korea's role in defending the free world against aggressive forces and pledged to strengthen alliances with countries that share similar values, including France. "The Republic of Korea is serving as a bulwark to defend the free world against forces that attempt to change the status quo by force, and (we) will further strengthen solidarity with value-sharing countries, such as France, to protect the peace and stability of the free world," he stated.

The event also paid tribute to the French military personnel who served during the Korean War, particularly the late Capt. Robert Goupil. The ceremony was notably attended by 170 cadets from France’s Saint-Cyr Military Academy and over 100 South Korean cadets, with the French group belonging to the class named after Capt. Goupil, who lost his life in the conflict.