Nanyangju Mayor Ju Gwang-deok Attends Commissioning Ceremony for ROKS Dasan Jeong Yak-yong

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] Nanyangju Mayor Ju Gwang-deok attended the commissioning ceremony for the next-generation Aegis destroyer ‘ROKS Dasan Jeong Yak-yong’ held on the 17th at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan.

‘ROKS Dasan Jeong Yak-yong’ is the second ship of the Sejong the Great-class (KDX-Ⅲ Batch-Ⅱ), a large naval destroyer equipped with advanced combat systems.

In accordance with strategic development regulations, the Navy adopts the names of historically and patriotic figures respected by the public as names for next-generation naval vessels. Following the commissioning ceremony, ROKS Dasan Jeong Yak-yong will undergo sea trials and evaluation tests and is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy and operationalized next year.

The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Defense Minister An Gyu-baek and attended by Navy Chief of Staff Kang Dong-gil and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries CEO and Representative Director Lee Sang-gyun. The ceremony proceeded in order: remarks by CEO Lee Sang-gyun, commendations and congratulatory remarks by Minister An Gyu-baek, and a ceremony to wish safe passage.

Particularly, the ceremony held special significance as Nanyangju Mayor Ju Gwang-deok, whose city is Dasan's hometown where his birthplace and grave are located, and Jeong Ho-young, the seventh-generation descendant of Jeong Yak-yong, were invited as special guests.

Additionally, the newly released portrait of Dasan unveiled by Nanyangju City in June following physical measurements and thorough historical verification of descendants was included in the ‘ROKS Dasan Jeong Yak-yong Commissioning Ceremony promotional video,’ serving as an opportunity to expand the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong brand image nationwide.

Mayor Ju Gwang-deok, who attended the commissioning ceremony, said, “It is very meaningful to participate in the commissioning ceremony representing Nanyangju, the city of Jeong Yak-yong,” and added, “We will pursue various cooperation including sister-ship relations with ‘ROKS Dasan Jeong Yak-yong’ going forward, and will develop and advance the precious connection made by Dasan.”