A ceremony that marked the 71th Armed Forces Day was held at the air force base in Daeju on Ontober 1. Moon traveled down to the city and encouraged soldiers in his speech: 

“We will get ready to defense ourselves from any aggression and attack.”

The air force base in the city is the center of air operation where the Air Combat Command and the 11th Fighter Wing is located from which F-15K covers the whole territory of South Korea. 

Moon is the first president to board KAI KUH-1 Surion to land the air force base. He inspected the the army with the Defense Minister Kyeongdoo Jeong after landing the Surion. The ongoing disposition of F35A also was unveiled to the public for the first time on the day. 

On finishing the inspection, Moon ordered sorties to protect the east, west and south territories of South Korea and four F-15K blasted high and reached the areas and sent reports within 20 minutes. Moon said in his speech:

“Peace is not to keep but make. Airtight fielding is but the one that backs up dialogue and cooperation and eventually the peace.”

Moon then emphasized innovation in the army by bringing up the Defense Reform 2.0. The defense budget next year surpasses around $50 billion and around $41 billion has been poured in the defense capacity for the last 3 years. 

“Innovation is very important as it affects win or lose of the future wars and we need more powerful missile defense system, latest submarines and landing ships as well as military satellites.”

After the official event, Moon shook hands with attendees and had a talk with sergeant first class in the reserve Jaehun Ha who lost one of his legs to mines.

Moon launches 11th economic tour

As his 11th nationwide economic tour, Moon visited South Chungcheong Province on October 10. He toured Samsung Display in Asan for latest investment and win-win cooperation signing and attended a luncheon with local entrepreneurs. 

He then attended a briefing session for new fisheries and ocean industry strategies and promised to promote 5 core industries. The province plans to create 100,000 jobs in the field by 2030 alongside promoting 1,000 companies and attracting yearly 30 million visitors. 

Moon made a comment on government’s effort to activate ocean industry and fishing villages and clean seas. 5 core industries he has promised to promote are ocean bio, tourism, eco-friendly ships, cutting edge ocean equipment and energy which will all be turned into smart industries. 

“The springboard of a nation’s ocean capability is science technology and the government is determined to increase the current 3% ocean and fishery R&D budget to 5% (around $1 billion) by 2022.”

Moon attends NALC

President Moon attended the 2019 National Saemaul Leader’s Convention on October 29 held in Suwon and encouraged the attendees by saying:

“South Korea would not have been what it is today without the Saemaul Movement and The Miracle of the Han River greatly indebted to this movement. Let us keep passing down its meaning.”

Moon gave a medal to 21 people who have made contributions to the Saemaul Movement on the day including Gyeongsoon Park who has provided services to help underprivileged people in our society for the last 28 years. 

“Saemaul Movement activists do not have an identification card of a public official but they are one of the most devoted public officials in our heart. They are the center of villages and of cooperation. They rolled up their sleeves to give help when the oil was leaked to the seas of Taean County and the big fire swept larges part of Gangwon Province. They also helped families of Sewol ferry incident.”

Moon added that the ROK-ASEAN Summit and the ROK-Mekong Summit next month will be a momentum to strengthen cooperation for this Korean New Village Movement in the neighboring countries.