2nd Happy Seminar for Soldiers

On December 8, despite temperatures dropping to -9°C (15.8°F), the Church of God in Chuncheon was filled with the warmth of cheers and laughter. The Church of God hosted the “2nd Happy Seminar for Soldiers” to support those enduring the harsh winter season. About 560 people attended the event, including soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and also their families, friends, and various figures from politics, academia, and other fields.

From the morning, soldiers accompanied by their acquaintances visited the church, enjoyed warm meals such as japchae, chopped steak, spaghetti, and fried chicken, and participated in side activities. The activity zone, filled with the scent of freshly popped popcorn, featured various attractions such as a photo booth, a stress-free zone, and dart-throwing game. Soldiers joyfully put their berets on their parents, took photos together, enjoyed popcorn, and explored the activities with bright smiles.

The event consisted of two parts: the Happy Concert and the Happy Seminar. The concert began with a nine-member chamber orchestra performing classics like “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Pinocchio and a medley from Frozen. The mixed choir, accompanied by the orchestra, performed “When You Believe,” the OST from the animated film The Prince of Egypt, and the fusion traditional Korean song, “Beautiful Country,” creating a profound resonance with the audience. Captivated by the performances, the audience responded with thunderous applause.

“Close Your Eyes, It’s a Dream; Open Them . . . a Scream!”

The host humorously introduced one response from a soldier in a pre-event survey titled “What does the military mean to me?” which caused the audience to burst into laughter. Another survey, titled “A Message for Military Personnel,” revealed heartfelt messages from parents, including “Stay healthy and come home, my son” and “I’m proud of my strong, dependable son,” touching many hearts.

In the second part of the seminar, themed “Father, Thank You; Mother, I Love You,” active-duty soldiers took the stage as presenters. As they conveyed the unspoken sincerity of fathers and the boundless love of mothers through literary works like poems and essays tailored to the soldiers’ experiences, participants were deeply moved, quietly suppressing their emotions or wiping away tears. The seminar concluded with the presenter encouraging soldiers to stay healthy and draw strength from their parents’ unwavering love and support.

Corporal Lee Min-gyu from Chuncheon, who returned to Korea from Australia for military service, shared, “During extreme cold-weather training, temperatures dropped to -18°C (-0.4°F), which was shocking, and the white snow felt unfamiliar. Coming to this church today, I was warmly welcomed and encouraged like family, which brought me great comfort.” Lieutenant Kim Yeo-bin from Hwacheon, who presented at the seminar, said, “The military brings together people from diverse regions, so it is crucial for commanders to care for them and help them adapt well. Preparing for this presentation, I realized that treating soldiers with parental love and attention is the best way to connect with them.”

Retired Major General Lee Dal-seop, who had commanded several front line units, said, “This event was so meaningful that I regret not organizing such activities when I was a regiment commander. I believe that the love and gratitude toward parents also strengthened the bonds between comrades.”

After the seminar, soldiers enjoyed more time at the activity zone. They expressed their gratitude by saying, “The delicious meals and the touching seminar warmed our hearts,” and returned to their camps with renewed determination to continue their service with vigor.

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