Yoon: "Fake news threatens liberal democracy... We must not be fooled by fraudsters"

President Yoon Attends 4·19 Commemoration Ceremony for Second Consecutive Year
Freedom and Democracy Guarded by Blood and Sweat Face Crisis
Democratic System Distorted by Incitement, Fake News, Threats, and Violence
Supports Totalitarianism but Poses as Democracy Activist

Following March Democracy Summit
Reaffirms Commitment to Protect Freedom and Democracy
Also Seen as Criticism of Moon Government

Visits Yu Yeong Bong Anso Before Ceremony
Offers Condolences to Patriots and Families
Government Unusually Conducts On-Site Investigation
Awards 31 Additional Founding Medals

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 19th, "The freedom and democracy that the April 19 Revolution martyrs defended with their blood must not be mocked by fraudsters." This remark underscores the need to protect liberal democracy against the spread of fake news worldwide, as well as against dictatorship, acts of aggression, and human rights violations by countries like North Korea. Domestically, it is also seen as a strong response from President Yoon toward the exposure of espionage allegations within labor and civic movements, the opposition's pro-Japanese framing, and the previous Moon Jae-in administration.

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon attended the 63rd anniversary commemorative ceremony held at the National April 19 Democratic Cemetery in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, where he said, "The liberal democracy that we have protected with our blood and sweat is now in crisis."

In his commemorative speech, President Yoon first pointed out, "Democracy is a political decision-making system to protect the freedom of the people, and liberal democracy is democracy that safeguards freedom. False agitation, fake news, threats, and incitement to violence are distorting and threatening the democratic decision-making system, which should be based on truth and the free formation of public opinion." He continued, "Those who threaten democracy with false agitation and fabrication mostly support totalitarianism while outwardly posing as democracy activists or human rights activists. We must never be deceived by such lies and disguises," appealing to the public.

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a commemorative speech at the 63rd anniversary of the April 19 Revolution ceremony held at the National April 19 Democratic Cemetery in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, on the 19th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon's remarks appear to reaffirm his commitment to defending liberal democracy, which he expressed again while presiding over the 2nd Democracy Summit held on the 29th of last month. At that time, President Yoon stated, "In addition to the camp of authoritarian forces that openly deny the norm-based international order, fake democracy represented by anti-intellectualism is rising worldwide," emphasizing that fake news threatens liberal democracy. He conveyed to world leaders the position that individual freedoms must be guaranteed through the rule of law based on liberal democratic principles.

There are also interpretations that his remarks criticize former President Moon Jae-in and the previous Moon administration. In December last year, the Presidential Office announced plans to enhance transparency in subsidies to non-profit private organizations and began audits of such organizations. It revealed, "During the previous Moon Jae-in administration, subsidies increased by about 400 billion won annually, among which cases were found where youth club support funds were provided to political groups leading anti-government protests." The Presidential Office criticized the Moon administration for neglecting oversight of private organizations involved in cartel activities and indiscriminately granting subsidies.

In particular, some view President Yoon's remarks as a response to former President Moon's recent interview, in which Moon said, "The achievements over five years were not mine alone but those of the people of the Republic of Korea. Therefore, it was the Republic of Korea that achieved them. Seeing those achievements collapse instantly and revert to the past, I feel a sense of futility." Regarding this statement, a Presidential Office official told reporters the day before, "That's a very interesting question," and indirectly criticized by saying, "It would be better to ask Go Min-jung and Kim Eui-gyeom, members of the Democratic Party of Korea who served as spokespersons for the Moon Jae-in Blue House."

To the April 19 patriots and their families, President Yoon expressed, "I pay tribute to the great courage and sacrifice of the students and citizens who held high the torch for freedom and democracy, and bow my head in mourning. I also extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the injured who have lived with the sorrow of losing their loved ones over a long time." He pledged, "We will record and pass down the stories of the April 19 Revolution patriots who established our liberal democracy and national dignity, one by one, without missing anyone. The government will continue to find and remember, in the name of the Republic of Korea, those who courageously devoted themselves to the country until the end."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is paying respects at the Eternal Flame Hall ahead of the 63rd anniversary ceremony of the April 19 Revolution held at the National April 19 Democratic Cemetery in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul on the 19th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In an unusual move, the government conducted on-site investigations, including school records from the regions where the April 19 Revolution unfolded, and awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation to 31 individuals whose contributions were confirmed. Additionally, President Yoon personally presented the Order of Merit certificates to five of them during the commemorative ceremony.

President Yoon's attendance at this year's ceremony broke the precedent of only attending the 10th anniversary commemorations, marking his first attendance in 16 years since 2007. He had also attended the 62nd anniversary April 19 Revolution commemorative ceremony last year as a president-elect.

Before the ceremony, President Yoon visited the portrait enshrinement hall at the National April 19 Democratic Cemetery, where the portraits of 507 martyrs are enshrined, and paid respects together with Park Min-sik, Commissioner of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; Oh Kyung-seop, President of the April 19 Democratic Revolution Association; Jeong Jung-seop, President of the April 19 Revolution Victims' Families Association; and Park Hoon, President of the April 19 Revolution Meritorious Persons Association. After viewing the portraits, he signed the guestbook.

The Presidential Office explained, "This is the first time the President has attended the commemorative ceremony and paid respects at the portrait enshrinement hall," adding, "President Yoon stated in his commemorative speech that he will record and pass down the stories of the April 19 Revolution patriots one by one and will continue to remember, in the name of the Republic of Korea, those who courageously devoted themselves to the country. Accordingly, the visit to the portrait enshrinement hall was conducted."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting attendees as he enters the 63rd anniversary ceremony of the April 19 Revolution held at the National April 19 Democratic Cemetery in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul on the 19th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]