The 101st Anniversary of March 1st Movement: "All Citizens Can Overcome COVID-19"... "Joint Health Cooperation with North Korea"
[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] President Moon Jae-in stated at the 101st March 1st Movement anniversary ceremony held at Baehwa Girls' High School in Seoul on the morning of the 1st, "We once again reaffirm through the March 1st Independence Movement that we can overcome anything if we stand together," adding, "Every March 1st, the cheers of 'Manse' gave us courage. The current crisis will surely be overcome by the entire nation working together."
President Moon said, "Even amid the horrors of the Korean War in 1951 and the foreign exchange crisis in 1998, over the past 100 years, we have never failed to commemorate the March 1st Independence Movement and recall the 'great strength' of unity," emphasizing this point. The March 1st ceremony this year was an occasion to deliver a message of overcoming national difficulties amid the ongoing challenges posed by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The event was attended by key figures including members of the Liberation Association, officials from various departments, and representatives from both ruling and opposition parties. Attendance was minimized in consideration of the COVID-19 situation. President Moon emphasized cooperation to overcome COVID-19, stating, "Even now, the entire nation is united. We can overcome COVID-19 and revive the weakened economy."
President Moon explained, "The government has raised the crisis alert to the highest level, 'serious,' and is responding comprehensively," adding, "With the recognition of an 'emergency economic situation,' we are also making every effort to restore economic vitality."
He further stated, "Internally, we will overcome the immediate challenge of COVID-19, and externally, we will achieve 'peace and shared prosperity on the Korean Peninsula' to build an unshakable Republic of Korea," asserting, "That is true independence and the completion of a new independence."
Despite the subdued atmosphere due to COVID-19, President Moon shared joyful news with the public regarding the repatriation of General Hong Beom-do's remains. He announced, "We have finally been able to bring the remains of the great independence army commander Hong Beom-do, who was born a commoner, back to the country," and previewed, "To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Bongodong, the President of Kazakhstan will visit Korea, and the remains will be repatriated and interred in the homeland."
Regarding relations with Japan, President Moon said, "Japan has always been our closest neighbor," adding, "We must face the past to overcome wounds and move forward to the future. We will not forget the past, but we will not remain stuck in it."
President Moon urged, "(Japan should) learn from history and join hands with us as the path to peace and prosperity in East Asia," and requested, "Let us overcome the crisis together and work towards a future-oriented cooperative relationship."
President Moon's March 1st message this year was different from usual, focusing primarily on overcoming COVID-19. He said, "Through the international spread of COVID-19, we have once again deeply felt the necessity of transnational cooperation," adding, "Efforts toward peace and humanitarianism in East Asia embody the spirit of the March 1st Independence Movement and the Provisional Government."
He expressed hope for joint cooperation with North Korea in the health sector, stating, "I hope for joint cooperation with North Korea in the health field," and argued, "When the North and South respond together to infectious disease outbreaks and jointly address disasters, accidents in border areas, and climate change on the Korean Peninsula, the lives of our people will become safer."
Meanwhile, the March 1st event included a session to announce the Declaration of Independence to the world. The declaration was read in the original text, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, sign language, and an easy-to-read version of the March 1st Declaration of Independence in sequence.
The original text was read by the President of the Liberation Association; the English version by Dalsy Packet, the English translator of Korean films such as Parasite; the Japanese version by Professor Hosaka Yuji; the Chinese version by Sergeant Jo Gye-hwa, a naturalized police officer; the Russian version by Choi Illya, a descendant of independence activist Choi Jae-hyung; the sign language version by sign language interpreter Lee Hyun-hwa, who is producing the National Institute of Korean Language's sign language dictionary; and the easy-to-read March 1st Declaration of Independence by fashion model Han Hyun-min.
Additionally, during the three cheers of 'Manse,' three independence heroes?Kim Gu, Yu Gwan-sun, and General Hong Beom-do?were represented as realistic digital avatars leading the cheers, attracting attention.
Han Jung-woo, Director of the Blue House Press Office, explained, "This year's March 1st ceremony was prepared under the theme '1920·March·1st' with the keywords 'Together, Hero, Overcome,'" adding, "It emphasized the Korean people's national character of continuously overcoming crises, just like 100 years ago when everyone became each other's hero and shouted for hope, and aimed to express the power of positivity that was not lost even in harsh times."
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