Woo Won-shik at May 18 Eve Ceremony: "Lifting of Martial Law Is the Victory of Gwangju in May"

First Official Invitation of National Assembly Speaker to Civic Eve Ceremony

On the 17th, Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-shik stated, "The people's victory over the 12·3 Martial Law is the victory of Gwangju in May."

On the 17th, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (center), and Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly (second from right), attended the 45th anniversary eve ceremony of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement held at Geumnam-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, holding placards. Photo by Yonhap News.

On this day, Speaker Woo took the stage at the eve ceremony marking the 45th anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement, held around Geumnam-ro in Dong-gu, Gwangju. He said, "Because the people knew and felt the May 18 Gwangju, they came to the National Assembly without any fear and blocked the martial law troops."

This is the first time that the Speaker of the National Assembly has been officially invited to speak at the eve ceremony of May 18, a civic event.

Speaker Woo stated, "Korea's democracy is a history made by the single step that Gwangju took, which paved countless paths," and added, "It is because of Gwangju in May that Korea has become a nation to be proud of."

He continued, "The torch of Gwangju in May 1980, after 45 years, has once again filled the square as candles and cheering sticks," and emphasized, "The power of conscience and courage demonstrated by Gwangju citizens who stood up to the martial law troops in a situation of utter isolation in 1980 has strengthened our faith and hope in democracy."

He further explained, "It created the belief that no power can defeat the people and that democracy prevails," and said, "That is why the square, which was desperate yet bright and dignified, became the legacy of Gwangju in May."

He also pledged, "May Gwangju is not only the force that saved the present but also the power that protects the future," and vowed, "I will fulfill the National Assembly's responsibility so that the light of Gwangju will shine forever along with democracy."