Attendance at the 104th Anniversary Ceremony of the Establishment of the Republic of Korea Provisional Government
Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung urged, "Our constitution contains the legal legitimacy of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea established through the March 1st Movement and the democratic ideals of the April 19th Revolution that resisted injustice," adding, "Now, the spirit of the May 18th Democratic Movement must be included in the preamble of the constitution."
On the 11th, Mayor Kang attended the 104th anniversary ceremony commemorating the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea held at Daeseong Girls' Middle School in Nam-gu, where he stated, "The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, established as a result of the March 1st Movement, was a turning point in creating today's Republic of Korea. Through that day, we decided on the name of the Republic of Korea and began to call ourselves a democratic republic."
He continued, "Deciding what values to inscribe in the constitution is essentially deciding what kind of country we want to build."
Furthermore, he asserted, "This idea is something that, beyond political parties, virtually the entire nation agrees upon, and although it may take time due to procedural issues, it will inevitably be realized someday. The spirit of May 18th is the spirit of resisting injustice, pursuing democracy and freedom, and caring for one another as a community."
He also emphasized the 'cultural powerhouse' envisioned by Baekbeom Kim Gu.
Mayor Kang said, "Currently, Gwangju is communicating with the world through the Biennale. The dream of a cultural powerhouse, emphasized by Kim Gu, is being realized one by one in Gwangju," adding, "Just as Gwangju in May 1980 showed the future that the Republic of Korea aspires to, today's Gwangju is showing the future image of the Republic of Korea," expressing pride in Gwangju as a cultural city.
He further stated, "Including the spirit of May 18th in the preamble of the constitution and advancing Gwangju beyond being an Asian cultural hub city to becoming the cultural powerhouse of the Republic of Korea, as dreamed by Kim Gu, is a noble purpose to commemorate the 104th anniversary," and added, "I hope this day will be an opportunity to reflect on Kim Gu's noble intentions and to contemplate together where our future will go."
About 300 people attended the ceremony, including Mayor Kang Gi-jung, Gwangju Superintendent of Education Lee Jeong-seon, Director of the Gwangju Regional Veterans Affairs Office Jeong Hong-sik, Chairman of the Gwangju Branch of the Liberation Association Choi Gwang-yeol, and students from Daeseong Girls' Middle School.
The ceremony proceeded in the order of a historical report on the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, commemorative speeches, congratulatory speeches, proclamation of the Provisional Charter of the Republic of Korea (by two student representatives), three cheers of "Manse," and a special lecture.
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