[Full Text] President Moon's 102nd Anniversary Speech on the March 1st Movement

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] Dear respected citizens,

Overseas compatriots,

At the historic site where the March 1st Independence Movement began,

for the first time ever, the March 1st Independence Movement commemorative ceremony is being held,

which is truly meaningful and deeply moving.

102 years ago today, here at Tapgol Park,

the restoration and leap forward of our nation began.

Cheondogyo, Christianity, and Buddhism overcame religious barriers and united as one,

and students took the lead in the national coalition.

At 2 p.m. on March 1, 1919,

a young man climbed the Octagonal Pavilion and read the Declaration of Independence.

As the reading ended, cries of "Manse" (Long live) covered the sky.

It was the moment the world's largest nonviolent movement, the March 1st Independence Movement, began.

The cries for freedom and independence that started at Tapgol Park

transformed ordinary people into citizens of a democratic republic,

and the calls for justice, peace, and humanitarianism

became a unifying roar that bound the colonized people together.

The March 1st Independence Movement

was a movement in which the entire nation participated

to restore the lives of the people from the exploitation of colonial rule.

Through the March 1st Independence Movement, we found the driving force to overcome colonialism,

and were able to begin the nation's leap forward.

We pay deep respect to our proud ancestors

who overcame adversity and achieved a turning point in the history of the Republic of Korea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Dear citizens,

Although 100 long years have passed,

the dedication and resilience of our people facing national crises together remain unchanged.

We did not succumb to the threat of COVID-19 that has lasted over a year.

Over the past year, the people

became the main agents of quarantine and protected the Republic of Korea.

Quarantine workers and medical staff

showed remarkable dedication and sacrifice beyond professional responsibility.

The year before the March 1st Independence Movement,

in 1918, when the people were suffering under Japan's military rule and exploitation,

a new infectious disease called the "Spanish flu" struck our nation.

At that time, over 7.55 million people, more than 40% of the population, were infected,

and more than 140,000 lost their lives.

"Cholera" also meant "death."

The fatality rate reached 65%,

and in 1920 alone, over 13,500 people died.

Japan failed to protect the colonized people from infectious diseases.

Using quarantine and hygiene as excuses,

they conducted forced household surveys and unconditional isolation,

and in 1920,

the population per doctor was as high as 17,000 people.

In such harsh medical conditions,

medical students actively participated in the March 1st Independence Movement.

Students from Kyungsung Medical School and Severance Medical School

led the Manse demonstrations at Tapgol Park,

and nurses from Severance Hospital and nursing students from Severance Medical School also

ran out into the streets with bandages to join the movement.

Among the arrested students, Kyungsung Medical School students were the most numerous.

It was the people awakened by the March 1st Independence Movement who protected the lives of their families, neighbors, and communities.

When the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was established, medical professionals

established the Korean Red Cross in Shanghai

to aid the oppressed nation through the independence movement,

and in 1920, they founded the "Red Cross Nurse Training Center"

to train nurses to treat independence fighters.

When cholera spread, youth and students across the country

organized youth quarantine teams

and conducted free vaccinations and disinfection activities,

which received great support.

In Seoul, thirteen neighborhoods and about 3,000 households

organized a joint self-defense group to fight cholera.

Residents of eight neighborhoods, including Hyoja-dong,

formed an association to establish an infectious disease hospital, and on September 4, 1920,

the first private infectious disease isolation hospital,

"Hyoja-dong P Hospital," was finally established.

At this hospital built by Koreans, Korean doctors, nurses, and traditional medicine doctors

devoted themselves to treating patients.

Looking at today's COVID-19 situation,

the efforts of our predecessors who tried to care for our patients ourselves

and establish our own medical system

deeply resonate with us.

It is very proud that the strength we have now to overcome COVID-19

originates from the dedication and sacrifice of our medical professionals 100 years ago.

Dear citizens,

Now, 100 years later,

our healthcare system

can boast world-class standards.

Low-income groups can receive treatments covered by health insurance

with an annual out-of-pocket expense of less than 800,000 KRW at any time,

and the coverage rate for severe patients has risen to 80%.

Our medical care

is evaluated as world-class in treating various cancers including colorectal and stomach cancer, and strokes,

and ranks high among OECD countries in key indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality rate, and cancer survival rates.

Such remarkably developed

healthcare system and biopharmaceutical production capacity

have become the foundation of K-Quarantine.

Although 100 years have passed, one thing remains constant.

The spirit of "inclusion" and "coexistence," caring for and relying on each other.

This is the power of our people that enables us to overcome any crisis.

We have overcome many crises and adversities through the power of the people,

and we are overcoming the COVID-19 crisis now as well.

The March 1st Independence Movement was started by national leaders,

but it was ordinary people who overcame all oppression and spread it into a nationwide Manse movement.

Now,

in the hands of citizens who put on masks every morning for their neighbors

and in the hearts of those practicing social distancing,

the spirit of the March 1st Independence Movement, united to overcome national crises,

is alive and breathing.

Thanks to the patience and sacrifice of the people for their neighbors,

and the efforts of medical staff working in isolation wards even at this moment,

the long fight against COVID-19 is now nearing its end.

A sufficient supply of vaccines and special syringes has been secured,

and vaccinations are proceeding smoothly as planned.

The government will do its utmost in quarantine until

every single citizen is safe from COVID-19,

and will make every effort to ensure vaccination,

achieving herd immunity by November, entering next winter.

The government's first principle throughout COVID-19 quarantine has been transparency.

The government has always transparently disclosed all information necessary for quarantine.

The same applies to vaccination.

The government transparently discloses vaccination strategies, secured quantities, plans, and progress,

and always follows international standards.

We ask the public to be vigilant against fake news that fosters vaccine distrust

and to actively cooperate with vaccination.

Dear respected citizens,

Overseas compatriots,

At the first March 1st ceremony held after liberation in 1946,

Provisional Government State Councilor Jo So-ang declared,

"We will make our compatriots free people, grant political rights,

and achieve true liberation without worries about food, clothing, and shelter."

The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea proclaimed "Samkyunism" as its founding ideology,

which states that when we have strength ourselves,

equal development between individuals, between nations, and between countries is possible.

It was a modest but grand dream,

and we have achieved remarkable accomplishments based on this dream.

We grew from one of the world's poorest countries to the world's top 10 economies,

became the world's 7th largest exporting country,

and opened the era of 30,000 USD per capita income.

Our advanced IT products such as semiconductors, smartphones, and displays

have become world market leaders.

Following the world's first commercialization of 5G,

we are also leading in eco-friendly future vehicles such as electric and hydrogen cars.

We are achieving self-reliance in materials, parts, and equipment industries,

and the growth speed of system semiconductors and bioindustries is also commendable.

The higher education attainment rate of our youth is the highest among OECD countries.

The resilience of our people who continuously learn and accumulate knowledge

has been the driving force of economic growth.

With the power of mature democracy,

we have set an example in quarantine and economy amid the COVID-19 crisis,

and are sharing the achievements and experiences of "K-Quarantine" with the world.

Support for developing countries and health-vulnerable nations is also expanding.

One hundred years ago, we were blocked at the doorstep of the Paris Peace Conference,

but now we have become a confident country invited to the G7 Summit.

With participation in this year's G7 Summit,

we will create a clear milestone for the "Leading Nation, Republic of Korea" to embark

on all the political, economic, social, and cultural achievements we have made.

?

?We have grown through cooperation with the international community,

and will continue to recover and leap forward with the world.

One hundred years ago, our ancestors here

declared that the purpose of the Declaration of Independence was not to hate or exclude Japan,

but to correct relations between countries

and achieve peace in East Asia and the world,

and declared a nonviolent peace movement.

We have inherited from our ancestors 100 years ago

the spirit of mutual equality and peace between nations.

Now, 100 years later, facing COVID-19,

we once again deeply realize how important the spirit of solidarity, cooperation, multilateralism, and inclusion is.

We have

surpassed an era where unilateral world order ruled by power,

colonialism, and war made all humanity unhappy.

We have realized how important international solidarity and cooperation are

to maintain global supply chains,

that countries must cooperate for early vaccine development,

and that vaccines must be shared equitably with developing countries

for global herd immunity.

Now the world must revive the spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and multilateralism

for coexistence and new prosperity.

Not only to overcome COVID-19,

but also to seek multilateral solutions to global issues such as climate change.

We now have the capacity to lead solidarity and cooperation based on multilateralism.

Last December, we launched

the "Northeast Asia Quarantine and Health Cooperation Body" together with the United States, China, Russia, and Mongolia.

Japan is also considering participation,

and we hope North Korea will join as well.

We will actively cooperate with participating countries.

The transboundary spread of new infectious diseases and livestock epidemics like COVID-19

can only be effectively addressed through multilateral cooperation beyond the level of a single country.

We will continue to strive for denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Based on the three principles of no war, mutual security guarantees, and joint prosperity,

we will develop inter-Korean relations.

Starting with participation in the "Northeast Asia Quarantine and Health Cooperation Body" to protect the lives and safety of the people,

we hope North Korea will cooperate and exchange with regional countries.

This will be a force to open the way for coexistence and peace in the Korean Peninsula and East Asia.

Dear citizens,

There is an unfortunate history between Japan and us.

Today is a day to remember the most dramatic moments in that unfortunate history.

We cannot forget that history.

While perpetrators may forget, victims never do.

However, 100 years later,

Korea and Japan have become very important neighbors to each other in all fields including economy, culture, and human exchange.

Over the past decades, Korea and Japan

have enhanced competitiveness together based on a kind of division of labor,

Korea's growth has helped Japan's development,

and Japan's growth has helped Korea's development.

It will continue to be so.

The only obstacle we must overcome is

that sometimes past issues are not separated from future issues and get mixed,

hindering future development.

We must face the past history squarely and learn lessons.

Learning lessons from past mistakes

is never shameful,

but rather the way to be respected in the international community.

Korea never forgets the shameful history of colonialism and

the painful history of the fratricidal war, and

strives to learn lessons.

However, we cannot be held back by the past.

We must resolve past issues as they are

while focusing more on future-oriented development.

The Korean government will always seek wise solutions

from the victim-centered perspective.

We will do our best to restore the honor and dignity of the victims.

However, efforts for cooperation and future development between Korea and Japan

will not stop.

Cooperation between the two countries benefits both,

contributes to stability and joint prosperity in Northeast Asia,

and supports trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

Moreover, now is the time to overcome the COVID-19 crisis together

and prepare for the post-COVID-19 era together.

I want to emphasize that cooperation between neighboring countries

has never been more important than now.

The March 1st Declaration proposed to Japan

to bravely and wisely correct past mistakes

and build a friendly new relationship based on true understanding.

Our spirit has not changed then or now.

Our government is always ready to sit down and talk with the Japanese government.

If we put our heads together with empathy,

I am confident that past issues can be wisely resolved.

Korea and Japan are walking together

looking at both past and future.

This year's Tokyo Olympics

may become an opportunity for dialogue between Korea and Japan, South and North Korea, North Korea and Japan, and North Korea and the U.S.

Korea will cooperate for the successful hosting of the Tokyo Olympics.

Furthermore, we hope Korea and Japan

can recover their economies hit by COVID-19,

and create a new order for the post-COVID-19 era through stronger cooperation.

Dear citizens,

To independence patriots and their families,

only twenty-four surviving independence patriots remain by our side now.

All are well over ninety years old.

Independence patriots

embraced the fate of the nation with their whole bodies,

and providing them with an honorable and comfortable life

is the nation's infinite responsibility.

Last year, the government operated

a special mobile home care service team for independence patriots.

We delivered emergency COVID-19 relief supplies to about 44,000 households including independence patriots and their families,

and took those with physical difficulties to hospitals.

We also supported overseas independence patriots and their descendants

with masks and other quarantine supplies.

Starting this month,

the government will implement

a "Traditional Medicine Primary Care Physician System" that visits independence patriots' homes directly.

From December, we will provide "autonomous smart wheelchairs" to independence patriots and other national merit recipients,

and will also begin full-scale development of "artificial retina" and "smart hearing aids."

The government has improved the criteria for independence patriot recognition

and has awarded the highest number of independence patriots ever.

We will strengthen the collection of independence movement materials and further improve the evaluation criteria

to expand the scope of awards.

Students who were the main actors of the March 1st Independence Movement

continued the spirit through the June 10th Manse Movement in 1926 and the Gwangju Student Independence Movement in 1929.

Last year, the government designated the June 10th Manse Movement as a national memorial day,

and from this year, the commemorative ceremony will be held as a government-hosted event.

It is very meaningful that all three major independence movements,

the March 1st Independence Movement, the Gwangju Student Independence Movement, and the June 10th Manse Movement,

are now national memorial days.

On November 23 this year, the day the Provisional Government leaders returned to Korea,

the National Provisional Government Memorial Hall will finally open.

It will vividly revive the 27-year great journey of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea,

including armed struggles risking lives, heroic activities, desperate diplomacy,

and the eventual cooperation of the Liberation Army and preparations for domestic invasion operations.

We hope the history of our independence movement

will become a great pride and honor for future generations.

Dear respected citizens,

Overseas compatriots,

Our 100 years since the March 1st Independence Movement

have been 100 years overcoming colonial rule, division and war, poverty and dictatorship.

It has been 100 years advancing toward universal human values

of freedom, peace, justice, and humanitarianism.

We are now pioneering a new path with the spirit of the March 1st Independence Movement, democracy,

inclusion, and innovation,

and the world is paying attention to our steps.

We will recover our precious daily lives through solidarity and cooperation.

With the spirit of humanitarianism, multilateralism, coexistence, and inclusion,

we will become a country leading the international order.

Here at Tapgol Park,

the spirit of our ancestors who achieved a turning point in history amid crisis and adversity lives on,

and we will remember them and move forward.

Together we are stronger.

We will leap higher.

Thank you.