Memorial Ceremony for Martyr Lee Han-yeol on the 37th Anniversary
On the 5th, Kang Gi-jung, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, said, "We will strengthen the Constitution of the Republic of Korea with the spirit of martyr Lee Han-yeol," marking the 37th anniversary of martyr Lee Han-yeol.
Mayor Kang attended the memorial ceremony held at the 5·18 Cemetery (National Democratic Martyrs' Cemetery) in Buk-gu, Gwangju, and reflected on the spirit of martyr Lee Han-yeol, saying, "We look back on today's democracy in front of martyr Lee Han-yeol."
He continued, "We must amend the Constitution in accordance with the people's demand to include the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising in the preamble of the Constitution, expand the basic rights of the people, and make the power structure more democratic."
He also stated, "The seed of democratization planted in Gwangju in 1980 blossomed in the June Plaza in 1987," adding, "Martyr Lee Han-yeol, who bloomed in the June Plaza, became the catalyst for the June Plaza and a great force that led to the June 29 Declaration."
He further added, "Just as martyr Lee Han-yeol overcame fear with excitement for democratization and fought vigorously at the forefront of the protesters, Gwangju will do its utmost to realize the will of the people."
The memorial ceremony was organized by the Lee Han-yeol Memorial Association and the Gwangju-Jeonnam Memorial Solidarity.
The ceremony was attended by Lee Han-yeol’s bereaved family, Kang Gi-jung, Mayor of Gwangju, Woo Sang-ho, Chairman of the Lee Han-yeol Memorial Association, Noh Seong-cheol, President of the Yonsei Democratic Alumni Association, Kim Eun-gyu, President of the Gwangju Jinheung High School Alumni Association, and others who honored the noble spirit of the martyr.
Martyr Lee Han-yeol was born in 1966 in Hwasun, Jeonnam, and spent his childhood in Gwangju. He graduated from Gwangju Dongsan Elementary School, Gwangju Dongseong Middle School, and Gwangju Jinheung High School, and entered Yonsei University’s Department of Business Administration in 1986.
On June 9, 1987, he attended the "Yonsei Students' Resolution Rally for the June 10 Demonstration" and was struck by a direct tear gas canister fired by the police in front of the main gate of Yonsei University during the protest. He collapsed and never recovered, passing away on July 5 at Severance Hospital.
News of his shooting led many citizens to take to the streets to strongly condemn the military dictatorship regime. The democratization movement, which had been sporadic until then, spread nationwide and resulted in the direct presidential election constitutional amendment.
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