In his second Memorial Day as the nation's president on Wednesday, Moon Jae-in was not at the conventional site to mark the occasion in the Seoul, but at the Daejeon National Cemetery instead.
It's the first time in this century... the government's Memorial Day ceremony was held outside the capital..
Our chief Cheongwadae correspondent Moon Connyoung reports.
The President remembering the nation's fallen heroes on this Memorial Day... not at the conventional Seoul National Cemetery but at the National Cemetery in Daejeon, roughly 140 kilometers south of the capital.

"The history of the Republic of Korea was written by our neighbors and families as they carried out their daily lives."
And most of those sacrificed in the process were our neighbors, as well.
Here at the Daejeon National Cemetery lie in eternal rest, their very valor.

President Moon Jae-in, on the 63rd Memorial Day, attended the service here... the first time for the government ceremony to be held at the Daejeon National Cemetery since 1999.

While most of those laid to rest at the Seoul National Cemetery are fallen soldiers and Korean independence fighters, the Daejeon National Cemetery is the reverent sanctuary for all patriots including those who sacrificed their lives for righteous cause, Dokdo Volunteer Forces, firefighters, and civil servants while in line of duty.

"Today, I feel tremendous pride in all the neighbors and families of the Republic of Korea who have nurtured affection for each other in their daily lives.
When we cherish each other, when we try to protect each other; we are all righteous people, we are all patriots.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in also vowed to continue efforts for the recovery of those who lost their lives in battle during the 1950 to 1953 Korean War.

"When inter-Korean relations improve, I will, first and foremost, push for the recovery of the remains of the fallen soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone. We should be able to retrieve the remains of other foreign soldiers including U.S. war veterans."

Troops from 16 countries fought for South Korea under the UN flag during the three year conflict.
His remarks during the Memorial Day address come in time of a fresh detente in inter-Korean ties and appears to be the South Korean president's hopes that it will pave the way for the two Koreas' efforts to account for the hundreds of thousands of service members still listed as missing in action from the war nearly seven decades ago.

With a series of historic geopolitical events ahead of himself and the nation, the South Korean president asked his fellow Koreans for unity in respecting patriotism and remembering those who sacrificed for us.

"That will become the strength and future of the Republic of Korea."

Moon Connyoung, Arirang News.