The navy plans to use an international naval parade scheduled for October in Jeju as a way to reconcile with Gangjeong residents who opposed the construction of the navy base in their community. Mike Laidman reports.

Under the cover of maritime patrol aircraft and military helicopters, navy vessels take to the sea.

The navy's best warships line up facing the Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship.

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2015 Busan naval parade

This was the naval parade on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ROK Navy in 2015.

This year’s military parade will take place at the Jeju naval base this autumn on an international scale.

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International naval parade in Jeju this October

The navy officially announced that it will hold the international naval parade from October 10 to 14 this year, the first time it has come to Jeju.

Residents in (강정) Gangjeong agreed to the naval parade at a local referendum.

INTERVIEW
Yoon Jeong-sang / Director, Intl. Naval Parade Org. Division
We will do our utmost to introduce Jeju to a global audience and raise the international status of Korea through this naval parade.
< 윤정상 / 해군 국제관함식기획단장 >
국제관함식을 성공적으로 개최함으로써 제주도를 전 세계에 널리 알리고 대한민국의 국제적 위상을 높이는 계기가 되도록 최선을 다하겠습니다.

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40+ countries to participate

More than 40 countries and 20 naval vessels will join in the international naval parade, called "the Sea of Jeju embraces world peace."

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Navy to use parade to reconcile with Gangjeong residents

In addition to current international military vessels parading on the water, there will be new vessels revealed at the event.

The original construction of the Gangjeong naval base is what sparked the community's strong opposition in the first place. And now the navy will try and focus on reconciliation with area residents through the parade.

INTERVIEW
Park Seong-woo / Deputy dir., Intl. Naval Parade Org. Division
The conflict and pain hasn’t been resolved or healed since the naval base was built. We'll make 2018 a year of reconciliation ` with area residents.
< 박성우 / 해군 국제관함식기획단 기획총괄팀장 >
해군기지가 지어진 이후에도 주민과 해군 간 갈등과 아픔이 충분히 치유되지 않았기 때문에 국제관함식을 계기로 민군 화합과 상생의 원년이 될 수 있도록...

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Navy will soon issue official apology

Of note, the navy will soon officially apologize for the issues area residents raised during the preparation of the naval parade.

[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Kim Seung-cheol

The island wishes the hostility between the navy and residents, which has grown and simmered for over ten years, to end with the naval parade.

Mike Laidman, KCTV