President Yoon Attends 5·18 Memorial Ceremony for Third Year
"Today’s Republic of Korea Stands on Gwangju’s Blood and Tears"
"Some Citizens Still Lack Economic Freedom"
Restore Social Mobility Ladder, Enhance Freedom and Welfare
President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a commemorative speech at the 44th anniversary ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Movement held at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju on the 18th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
"Everywhere I look / are flowers and leaves / blooming flowers, blooming leaves / all remind me of you // (omitted) A great shock / slowly / gathers into a calm longing / and profound pain, blooming / in every heart, your image / blooming like flowers / in every heart, your image / blooming like flowers" (From Kim Yong-taek's 'After You Left, Spring Came')
On the morning of the 18th, President Yoon Suk-yeol shed tears during the 44th anniversary commemoration ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Uprising held at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Gwangju. When actor Seo Tae-hwa recited Kim Yong-taek's poem 'After You Left, Spring Came' in a low voice to mark the start of the ceremony, cameras captured the bereaved families wiping away tears throughout the venue during the live broadcast.
Throughout the venue that day, the Ipop tree was in full bloom with brilliant white flowers, and Gwangju, warmed by sunny weather that eased the grief of the bereaved families, welcomed President Yoon, who attended the ceremony for the third consecutive year.
Yoon: "Gwangju's Warm Solidarity, Foundation of Korea's Freedom and Prosperity"
At the ceremony, President Yoon said, "This May, the streets of Gwangju are adorned with the abundant blossoms of the Ipop tree," adding, "The pure white Ipop tree flowers resemble the rice balls shared by Gwangju citizens and students 44 years ago in Geumnam-ro and the provincial government office." He continued, "Gwangju united in resistance to protect freedom, democracy, and human rights. The passionate solidarity of Gwangju in May 1980 laid the foundation for today's freedom and prosperity of the Republic of Korea," emphasizing, "Today's Korea stands on the blood and tears shed by Gwangju."
President Yoon has attended the May 18 Democratic Uprising commemoration ceremony for three consecutive years since his inauguration, paying tribute to the sacrifices of the democratic spirits and expressing gratitude to the merit recipients and bereaved families. He is the second president, after former President Roh Moo-hyun, to attend the ceremony three years in a row during his term.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is entering together with representatives of the families of the May 18 victims at the 44th anniversary ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Movement held on the 18th at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju. [Image source=Yonhap News]
To symbolize the passing down of the May 18 spirit through generations, President Yoon welcomed representatives of bereaved families and descendants of May 18 merit recipients at the entrance of the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery, boarding a bus together and entering through the 'Gate of Democracy' to jointly offer flowers and incense. Holding the hand of a May mother with his right hand and the hand of a descendant of a democratic merit recipient with his left, President Yoon walked together to the event site in front of the May 18 Memorial Tower. He left the inscription "The May Spirit that Led Our Freedom, Prosperity, and Future" in the guestbook at the Gate of Democracy.
Last year, President Yoon entered with the bereaved families of May 18 democratic merit recipients, but this year, he especially entered alongside representatives of the descendants of merit recipients, symbolizing the inheritance of Gwangju's May spirit through generations, according to the presidential office. In his commemorative speech, he paid respects to the noble sacrifices of the democratic spirits and offered consolation and gratitude to the May 18 democratic movement merit recipients and their families who have carried on the 'May Spirit.'
Yoon: "May Spirit Blossoms Fully into Freedom and Democracy"
President Yoon stated, "As the May spirit takes deep root, the Republic of Korea has fully blossomed into a flower of freedom and democracy," adding, "The political freedom and human rights enjoyed by every citizen now stand on par with any country in the world." However, he pointed out that unlike the expansion of political freedom in our society, many citizens still do not enjoy economic freedom, saying, "We are facing another era-defining challenge."
He emphasized, "Class conflicts caused by economic inequality and the breaking of the ladder of opportunity are deepening social polarization, threatening freedom and democracy," and said, "We must rapidly grow the economy to restore the ladder of social mobility and raise the level of freedom and welfare enjoyed by the people." He continued, "We must fairly distribute the fruits of growth and provide stronger protection for the socially vulnerable to open an era centered on the happiness of ordinary people and the middle class," explaining, "We must firmly prepare the soil of challenge and opportunity so that future generations can dream of tomorrow."
He also said, "We must unite the hearts of the people and move forward together toward a happy, prosperous, and hopeful future," emphasizing, "This is the proper way to inherit the May spirit in this era and sincerely repay the sacrifices and tears of Gwangju." President Yoon added, "We will carefully attend to the lives of the people and vigorously advance toward a greater Korea with the people. To open a new future where the May spirit shines brilliantly, I and the government will devote all our efforts."
Tears of President Yoon and Bereaved Families During May 18 Memorial Poem Recitation
President Yoon Suk-yeol is wiping away tears while watching a commemorative performance at the 44th anniversary ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Movement held on the 18th at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju. [Photo by Yonhap News]
That day, actor Seo Tae-hwa recited Kim Yong-taek's poem 'After You Left, Spring Came' to mark the start of the ceremony. The poem, included in a collection published in 1988, commemorates and remembers the victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. During the recitation, President Yoon and the bereaved families were seen with reddened eyes.
Afterward, representatives of students from Chonnam National University shared stories about the 'Hope of May' cherished by the martyrs until the end, and musical actor Lee Geon-myung sang 'Beautiful Person' with a heart mourning the May spirits. Juniors from the alma mater attended by the student victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising offered bouquets of Ipop tree flowers symbolizing the May spirits and conveyed their condolences to the attending bereaved families.
President Yoon concluded the ceremony by standing with the attendees, holding hands, and leading the singing of the 'March for the Beloved.' Although past conservative governments omitted the singing of this song, President Yoon has sung it for three consecutive years at the ceremony.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is holding hands with members of the May Mothers and leading the singing of the "March for the Beloved" at the 44th anniversary ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Movement held on the 18th at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju. [Photo by Yonhap News]
After the ceremony, President Yoon visited the graves of the late merit recipients Park Geum-hee, Kim Yong-geun, and Han Kang-woon, who are buried in Section 1 of the May 18 Democratic Cemetery, to pay respects and console the bereaved families, according to a written briefing by presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung. President Yoon first visited Park's grave. Park (born 1963) was a third-year student at Jeonnam Girls' Commercial High School who died after being shot by martial law troops while leaving a blood donation at a Christian hospital, having heard a street broadcast saying, "People are dying. Blood is needed." President Yoon held the hand of Park's older sister, Park Geum-sook, and offered words of comfort, saying, "Please stay healthy."
Next, President Yoon moved to Kim's grave. Kim (born 1917) was a high school teacher who, after retirement, farmed in his hometown Gangjin. He was imprisoned for hiding students wanted during May 18 and died in 1985 from aftereffects. President Yoon learned that Kim was also an independence activist and a Korean War veteran and conveyed words of consolation and encouragement to his son, Kim Man-jin.
Finally, President Yoon visited Han Kang-woon's grave. Han (born 1961) was a truck driver who transported protesters to the provincial government office during the May 18 uprising. He was captured while performing guard duty monitoring the movements of the airborne troops, taken to Sangmu Camp, tortured, and died in 2002 from aftereffects. President Yoon shook hands with Han's wife, Im Young-rye, and son, Han Sun-ho, offering comfort to the son, saying, "Please take good care of your mother."
Cho Kuk Wears 'End May 18 Tyranny' Tie... City Councilors Stage Picket Protest
The ceremony was attended by 2,500 guests, including May 18 merit recipients and their families, key government figures, students, and citizens. Political figures also attended in large numbers, including Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party; Park Chan-dae, floor leader; Hwang Woo-yeo, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party; Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader; Cho Kuk, leader of the Innovation Party; and Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party.
Notably, Cho Kuk attracted attention by wearing a tie emblazoned with the message "End May 18 Tyranny." Cho also attended the 64th anniversary of the April 19 Revolution commemoration ceremony last year, wearing a tie with the message "April 19 Ends Dictatorship." President Yoon did not exchange greetings separately with political figures such as Chairman Hwang, Leader Lee Jae-myung, or Leader Cho on this day.
Meanwhile, during President Yoon's commemorative speech, eight city councilors from the Gwangju City Council's May 18 Special Committee staged a silent picket protest. Each of the eight councilors stood holding white cloths with black letters spelling out "Inclusion of May 18 in the Constitutional Preamble," causing a brief commotion as voices from behind urged them to sit down.
On the 18th, during the 44th anniversary ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Movement held at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju, President Yoon Suk-yeol delivered a commemorative speech, while members of the Gwangju City Council's May 18 Special Committee displayed a paper with "Inclusion of May 18 in the Preamble of the Constitution" written on it. [Image source=Yonhap News]
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
