Lee Pledges Stronger Support for Disabled Servicemembers Ahead of 2029 Invictus Games

President Lee Jae Myung pledged Thursday that South Korea will provide proper recognition, treatment and support for military and police personnel who were wounded or disabled in the line of duty.

Lee delivered the commitment in a video message to a sports gathering organized by the Korea Disabled Veterans Organization, a group under the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs that supports servicemembers with disabilities. He said the government would remember their sacrifices and repay them with appropriate honors and improved living conditions.

The remarks placed veterans’ welfare and rehabilitation at the center of the administration’s message. Lee did not announce a new funding package or detailed policy measures in the address, but framed continued public support as an obligation owed to personnel injured while serving the country.

Lee also pledged government partnership for the Invictus Games scheduled to be held in Daejeon in 2029. He said the government would act as a solid partner in supporting the event, both to uphold the honor and pride of South Korean disabled servicemembers and to demonstrate the country’s commitment to veterans internationally.

The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport competition for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans. Founded by Britain’s Prince Harry in 2014, the event uses sport to support rehabilitation and to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by servicemembers after injury or illness.

Hosting the Games will put Daejeon, a central South Korean city, at the center of an international gathering focused on recovery, resilience and veterans’ participation. The event will also give South Korea an opportunity to show how it supports injured personnel beyond their active service.

Lee’s message linked the successful staging of the Games with a broader promise to improve the lives of disabled veterans. His emphasis on both formal honors and practical support suggests that preparations for 2029 will be judged not only by the sporting event itself but also by the lasting treatment of those it is intended to celebrate.

The Korea Disabled Veterans Organization’s sports gathering provides a domestic platform for that policy focus, bringing attention to rehabilitation and continued participation through athletics. The president’s statement made clear that the government views support for disabled servicemembers as a continuing responsibility rather than a ceremonial commitment.