Chungcheongnam-do Province, which is intensively promoting the "practice of the Chungcheong spirit of loyalty, filial piety, and propriety" as its top priority task under the 9th popular election administration, is fleshing out its blueprint to make Naepo New Town the centerpiece of national defense and patriotism in South Korea.

On the 22nd, the province held an interim report meeting for the "Integrated Project for the Construction of the Chungnam Righteous Army Memorial Hall and Remodeling of the Patriots and Veterans Hall" in the provincial government's medium conference room. The session was attended by related officials including Koo Sang, Director-General of the province's AI Basic Society Health and Welfare Bureau, as well as experts and consulting firm representatives.

This project aims to organically link the two facilities by newly constructing the Righteous Army Memorial Hall within the Veterans Park in Naepo New Town while remodeling the adjacent, aging Chungnam Patriots and Veterans Hall. The goal is to enhance project efficiency by integrating and centralizing veterans' heritage that had previously been discussed separately.

Furthermore, the province plans to vividly convey the spirit of loyalty, filial piety, and propriety to residents through exhibitions, educational programs, and interactive experiences related to Chungnam's history, culture, and figures of national defense and patriotism, thereby fostering a sense of pride.

The Righteous Army Memorial Hall, to be built in Mok-ri, Sapgyo-eup, Yesan-gun, will serve as a hub to re-illuminate the history of the righteous army struggles within the province and inherit and develop that spirit. The consulting firm proposed key contents including the Baekje Restoration Army, the righteous armies of the Imjin War, the Gabo National Crisis, the anti-Japanese righteous armies, and the Donghak Peasant Revolution.

For the Patriots and Veterans Hall located in Singyeong-ri, Hongbuk-eup, Hongseong-gun—a space honoring the people's will to defend the nation, the history of patriotism, and the history of sacrifice and devotion—contents such as the Declaration of Independence, Martyr Yu Gwan-sun, the March 1st Movement in Chungnam, domestic and international independence movements, and Chungnam's contributions to the world and humanity were put forward.

During the interim report meeting, discussions focused on efficient linkage and differentiated content construction between the two facilities. Key agenda items included: $triangle$ visualizing Chungnam's righteous army activities based on historical verification and creating commemorative spaces, $triangle$ improving aging facilities at the existing veterans hall, $triangle$ introducing immersive exhibition contents incorporating latest AI technologies, and $triangle$ operating customized educational programs to spread the value of loyalty, filial piety, and propriety.

Participants shared a strong consensus that the Righteous Army Memorial Hall and the Patriots and Veterans Hall should transcend mere exhibition spaces to become participatory veterans' culture hubs where residents and future generations can naturally experience the spirit of love for the country in their daily lives.

Director-General Koo Sang stated, "Chungnam is historically a land of fidelity and righteous armies that took the lead in overcoming national crises. By successfully driving forward this integrated project, we will widely spread the value of loyalty, filial piety, and propriety, and complete a premier veterans' culture space representing the Republic of Korea."

Reviewing and reflecting the opinions presented at the report meeting, the province plans to finalize the master plan and commence construction after concluding the planning phase next February.

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