15th anniversary of bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island, Marine Corps commemorates fallen soldiers with AI-generated video

Moon Young Jo (right), father of the late Lance Corporal. Moon Kwang-wook and his son are seen in an AI-rendered video created by the Marine Corps to commemorate the Marines who died in the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

At a ceremony commemorating the 15th anniversary of the bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island, the Marines released an AI-generated video of two fallen soldiers, and their families wept as they watched the vivid images of their loved ones.

“The last time I saw him was on vacation on October 15, 2010,” said Moon Young-joo, the father of the late Lance Corporal. Moon Kwang-wook died at the age of 18 due to shelling. “I can still feel my son’s breath, his voice, his warmth. They are all preserved in my body.”

When her son appeared on screen with a bright smile, Mun couldn’t hold back her emotions and started crying. It had been 15 years since I had seen that smile.

“I felt like my son was right next to me,” he told JoongAng Ilbo.

The Marines created an AI-generated video of the late Lance Corporal. Moon and the late Sgt. Seo Jeong Woo attended a memorial service held at the Daejeon National Cemetery on Sunday to console his family. Many people were crying as they watched.

The video contains vivid scenes of Corporal. Moon smiles at his fellow Marines and takes pictures with his brothers. Corporal in the final scene. Moon is sleeping in her father’s arms, and her father is gently stroking her hair.

Corporal in the original photo. Moon, like any other teenage son, stares indifferently into the distance. However, thanks to the AI, he has a peaceful expression on his face as he is hugged by his father.

The late Lance Corporal. Moon Kwang-wook and the late Sergeant Seo Jeong-woo, who were killed in the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, are seen in an AI-rendered video created by the Marine Corps to commemorate them. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

“that [photo] It happened a month before the bombardment, when I returned home for vacation. It’s the final episode [I would be with him like that]” said the father.

“My son has gone to a place of no return. All I can do is make sure the other Marines return safely to their parents.”

President Moon added, “I hope this incident serves as a reminder to the people and military that North Korea is on the lookout for opportunities to attack, and that a strong sense of national security is important.”

Seo’s video shows him attending his brother’s wedding, a moment when he should have been there too.

Seo’s mother, Kim Oh-bok, tearfully said, “It’s been 15 years, but my mother’s pain hasn’t gone away. Whenever I see someone wearing a Marine Corps uniform on the street, I still feel like my son has come home on vacation.”

Minister of Defense Ahn Gyu-bak gives a speech at a memorial event to commemorate those who died in the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island at the Daejeon National Cemetery on November 23rd. [YONHAP]

The shelling occurred at 2:34 pm on November 23, 2010, when North Korea began unprovoked shelling on Yeonpyeong Island. North Korea fired approximately 170 coastal artillery rounds, killing two Marines and two civilians and wounding more than 10 others.

This is the first time since the Korean War (1950-53) that North Korea has directly fired artillery on South Korean territory. In response, the Marines fired approximately 80 counterattacks from K9 self-propelled howitzers, inflicting more casualties on the northerners and neutralizing the enemy position.

In 2021, the Ministry of National Defense changed the official name of the incident from “Yeonpyeong Island Artillery Provocation” to “Yeonpyeong Island Artillery Battle” to emphasize the South Korean military’s response.

Approximately 280 people attended Sunday’s memorial service, including family members, military personnel, veterans, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-bak, Marine Corps commander Choo Il-sook, and other current and former military personnel.

Minister of Defense An Gyeong-Bak (front row, right) mourns the deceased at the Daejeon National Cemetery on November 23rd, along with family members of those killed in the Yeonpyeong Island shelling incident. [NEWS1]

In his commemorative speech, Ahn said, “History has shown that true peace must be supported by strength.” “We will establish a state of complete military readiness against all threats and provocations of the enemy.”

Rep. Yoo Young-won (People’s Power) of the National Defense Committee, Rep. Baek Sung-hee and former Rep. Yoo Sung-min of the Korea Reconstruction Party also attended.

Mr. Ahn, who is also a member of the Democratic Party, attended as the Minister of Defense. There were no sitting Democratic Party members in sight.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter using generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
Written by Lee Yoo Jung [[email protected]]