Emphasizing the Historical Significance at the 131st Anniversary Ceremony
"Extending Even to the Candlelight Vigils That Prevented the Regression of Democracy"
"Fulfilling Our Responsibility to Honor Participants and Preserve Records"
On the 11th, Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Wonsik described the Donghak Peasant Revolution as "the root of people's sovereignty and democracy."
At the 131st anniversary ceremony held at the Donghak Peasant Revolution Memorial Park in Jeongeup on this day, Speaker Woo said, "The first victory of the Donghak Peasant Army was not merely a triumph in battle, but a turning point that awakened the era and changed the course of history." He added, "The spirit of the Nokdu Flower has served as the driving force that has set our country right and propelled us forward at every critical moment in history."
He continued, "We discover the living spirit of the Donghak Peasant Revolution in the March 1st Movement, the anti-Japanese independence struggle, the Jeju 4·3 Incident, the April 19 Revolution, the May 18 Democratization Movement, the June Democratic Uprising, and even in the candlelight vigils and cheering sticks that stood against the regression of democracy."
Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is speaking at the 131st Anniversary of the Donghak Peasant Revolution Ceremony on the 11th. Photo by the Speaker's Office of the National Assembly.
Speaker Woo emphasized, "Because there is a 130-year-old root of people's sovereignty, which means that wrongful power is always corrected by the people themselves, democracy in the Republic of Korea cannot be easily undermined."
He also said, "The Donghak Peasant Revolution went beyond resistance; it created a blueprint for a better world and social reform envisioned by the people themselves." He added, "The Donghak Peasant Revolution reminds us that both the principle that the people are the true owners of history and the nation, and the direction and practice of social reform to realize this, all emerge from the people."
Speaker Woo promised, "When we join hands to restore common sense and trust and unite for people's sovereignty and democracy, we are all descendants of the Donghak Peasant Army." He continued, "The National Assembly will fulfill its responsibility to ensure that the Donghak Peasant Revolution becomes a legacy for all, including proper recognition for participants and the systematic preservation and management of records."
He also stated, "On the occasion of the 131st anniversary of the Donghak Peasant Revolution, I pray for the repose of the Donghak Peasant ancestors, and I deeply thank the bereaved families, the memorial foundation, and related organizations that have worked tirelessly to honor their spirit and restore their honor."
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