Wrote and Erased 7 Times... Yoon Personally Drafts 5·18 Democratic Uprising Commemorative Speech (Comprehensive)

Leaving a Message of Hope... Connecting 'May Sorrow' to 'Future Hope'

President Yoon Suk-yeol revised the commemorative speech to be delivered at the May 18 Democratic Uprising memorial ceremony late into the evening on the 17th, together with some of his aides. / Presidential Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Seok-yeol reportedly wrote the commemorative address he delivered at the May 18 Democratic Movement memorial ceremony on the 18th entirely by himself, from drafting to final editing. It is said that he agonized over how to connect the "sorrow of May" to "hope for the future."

According to the Blue House, President Yoon reviewed the May 18 Democratic Movement commemorative speech until late the previous night. Together with his aides, he laid out both the draft and the revised versions, repeatedly making edits by adding and removing words himself. A senior Blue House official stated, "President Yoon views the spirit of Gwangju May as resistance for democracy, freedom, and unity," adding, "He pondered how to comfort the sorrow of May in Gwangju and heal the pain." The official further said, "The part President Yoon struggled with the most was how to transform the sorrow of May into hope for the future," and noted, "He rewrote and erased the text seven times because the context did not resonate emotionally."

Among the statements President Yoon delivered that day, expressions such as "The spirit of May, which defended liberal democracy with blood, is the cornerstone of national unity," and "The values of liberal democracy and human rights are the philosophy of unity that binds our people together," were reportedly crafted by him personally.

Earlier, President Yoon also personally revised the 16-minute and 37-second inaugural address he delivered on the 10th. Although the draft was created through discussions among 16 members of the inaugural speech preparation committee, President Yoon refined it himself. He also personally edited all his speeches when he declared his political participation on June 29 last year, when he was selected as the People Power Party’s presidential candidate on November 5 last year, and when he delivered his acceptance speech after winning the presidential election on March 9 this year.

This year’s memorial ceremony theme, "Offering May," was planned with the intention of healing the pain of May 18 Democratic Movement veterans and their families through truth-finding, forgiveness, and reconciliation, and delivering a message to the public to cherish the seeds of democracy sown from Gwangju and together create a hopeful May.

A Blue House official explained, "The attendance of over 100 People Power Party lawmakers, ministers, and the Blue House staff?excluding the minimum number required to keep offices running?was itself the greatest message of unity."