6/6 Talk about Korea’s Memorial Day.

June the 6^th is Memorial Day in Korea. It’s called hyeon-chung-il and it’s a national holiday. It is a day to honor those who sacrificed their lives while serving the country.

* serve the country: 국가를 위해 임무를 다하다

ex> There are many ways in which you can serve the country.

Military personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty are remembered on this day.

* in the line of duty: 임무 중에

ex> Those who died in the line of duty are buried at the National Cemetery.

We also pay tribute to those who fought for Korea’s independence during Japan’s occupation.

* pay tribute to: ~ 에 경의를 표하다, = honor / remember

ex> We paid a silent tribute to patriots who fought for the country.

ex> The whole country remembers patriots on this day.

We also remember those who fought in the Korean War.

* those who fought in the Korean War: 한국 전쟁 참전 용사

ex> We paid tribute to those who fought in the Korean War.

An official ceremony takes place at National Cemetery in Seoul. People pray and lay flowers at the graves of those being remembered. People hang the Korean flag at half-staff as a sign of respect and mourning.

* hang at half-staff: 조기로 게양하다

ex> On national holidays, people hang the national flag at half-staff.

@ Many soldiers died in combat.  많은 군 장병들이 전투 중에 목숨을 잃었다.

<HOMEWORK>

1. He has served the country for many years.

2. Some firefighters lost their lives in the line of duty.

3. I want to pay tribute to all the work the organization has done.

4. We hung the Korean flag at half-staff out on the balcony.

@ Related Topics>> Memorial Day (2012.6.6),

6/6 Memorial Day

DIALOG>> My grandfather was a Korean War veteran.

A: What are you doing this Memorial Day?
B: My whole family is going to the National Cemetery in Seoul.
A: How come?
B: My grandfather was a Korean War veteran. He's buried there.
A: Wow, really?
B: Yeah, my dad told me he was killed in action near the Imjin River.
* killed in action (KIA): 전사하다
* war veteran: 참전 용사


RESPONSE>> Talk about Memorial Day in Korea.

The Korean Memorial Day, or Hyeonchung-il, is a national holiday in Korea observed on June 6th every year.
* observe: 지키다, 기념하다
ex> Thanksgiving Day in the United States is observed on the every fourth Thurday of November.

This holiday is equivalent to Memorial Day in the United States.
* be equivalent to: ~와 같다, ~에 상당하다
ex> One gallon is equivalent to 3.79 liters.
ex> A mile is equivalent to 1.6 kilometers.

We celebrate this important day to commemorate men and women who died during the Korean War and other significant battles.
* commemorate: 추도하다, 추모하다

We also honor those who bravely fought for our independence during the Japanese occupation.

On this day, a memorial service is held in the National Cemetery in Seoul and the Korean flag is flown half-mast.
* National Cemetery: 국립묘지
ex> The next summer Olympic Games will be held in London, England.
* be flown half-mast (=half-staff): 조기로 게양하다,

At the tenth hour of this day, a moment of silence is observed to honor those who gave up their lives for our country.
* a moment of silence: 묵념
ex> There was a moment of silence for the Italian football player Morosini.
* give up one's life: 목숨을 바치다
ex> It's totally wrong to give up your own life.

This period of silence generally lasts a minute.
ex> How long does that movie last?


@ My condolences to you and your family.
당신과 당신 가족에게 삼가 조의를 표합니다.

1. Korea's independence day is observed on August 15th every year.
2. 32 degrees Fahrenheit is equivalent to zero degrees Celsius.
3. Let's have a moment of silence for him.
4. His marriage didn't last that long.