Survivor of Cheonan sinking assumes captaincy of reincarnated frigate

A lieutenant who survived the sinking of the corvette ROKS Cheonan, Commander Park Yeon-soo, has become captain of the newly reincarnated frigate that bears its sunken predecessor's name, the South Korean Navy said Monday.

Commander Park Yeon-soo, salutes in front of the frigate ROKS Cheonan on Monday at the South Korean Navy's 2nd Fleet in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi. Park was inaugurated as the new captain of the ROKS Cheonan. [REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY / YONHAP]

A lieutenant who survived the sinking of the corvette ROKS Cheonan, Commander Park Yeon-soo, has become captain of the newly reincarnated frigate that bears its sunken predecessor's name, the South Korean Navy said Monday.

Park’s return to the ROKS Cheonan comes 14 years after the sinking of the original corvette in a North Korean torpedo attack in 2010.

“The command of the ROKS Cheonan is a sacred calling passed down by fellow sailors” who died at the attack in 2010, Park said Monday, a day of his inauguration.

Park also paid respects to those who sacrificed themselves to safeguard the nation — 46 fallen sailors from the old Cheonan, warrant officer Han Joo-ho who died during the rescue mission for the Cheonan, and those who lost their lives in the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island and naval skirmishes in the Yellow Sea.

The inauguration was held at the headquarters of the Navy’s 2nd Fleet, which patrols the Yellow Sea.

He pledged to those who have fallen that if the enemy launches a provocation, he would “turn where the enemy stands into a grave and win victory without losing any soldiers from our side,” Park said during his inauguration speech.

Before the inaugural ceremony, he paid tribute at the memorial for the fallen sailors from the old ROKS Cheonan. He said doing so helped clear his mind.

The newly inaugurated captain of the ROKS Cheonan, Park Yeon-soo, pays tribute to the 46 sailors who fell in the 2010 sinking of his ship's namesake in front of the memorial on Baengnyeong Island on Monday, before his inaugural ceremony. [REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY / YONHAP]

“I pledged that if the enemy launches another provocation, I would retaliate hundreds and thousand times stronger,” he told the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily.

He also said he feels a heavy responsibility in keeping the front line safe and secure as the warship’s captain.

“The Cheonan is stationed at the maritime frontier — near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) — where the country directly confronts North Korea. Thus, hostilities can break out anytime,” Park said.

“The new frigate has improved anti-submarine operation capabilities and can carry various missiles capable of striking the enemy’s on-ground facilities,” Park said. He added that the sailors and ship will be at “full readiness.”

“Any attacks and provocations [from the enemy] will result in a situation where we will bury them underwater by retaliating hundreds and thousand times stronger.”

Park noted the situational similarities between the 2010 attack and the recent military tensions between the South and North. In early January, the North fired more than hundreds of shells toward the South. It also carried out underwater nuclear weapon system tests last year.

Park said the word “Cheonan” will follow his life forever.

“I once thought about leaving the Navy. However, I decided to continue my duty to protect the country as a mission which my fellow sailors passed on to me.”

He also added that he would have regretted it for the rest of his life if he had served on a warship other than the Cheonan. “I have longed to become the captain of the new Cheonan if given the chance.”

“I shall command and make the ROKS Cheonan frigate a warship that always wins,” Park added.

“I cannot stop thinking of the fallen soldiers, and the moment [of the attack] remains vivid,” Park said. “The sailors who survive will keep them in their hearts and bury the enemies in the cold ocean waters.”

“The new ROKS Cheonan will sail to the battlefield with the souls of fallen sailors, so please keep an eye on the Cheonan’s [future] victory.”

A former and now retired captain of the ROKS Cheonan, Choi Won-il, encouraged Park, saying he would always support him. Choi also thanked Park for taking the captainship of the new frigate.

Park was commissioned by the Navy in 2006. He served on the Chamsuri-276 patrol boat, the ROKS Cheonan and at Jinhae Naval Base in South Gyeongsang.

The new ROKS Cheonan began operations with the 2nd Fleet last December after undergoing seven months of testing.

BY LEE YU-JEONG, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]