President Lee Declares December 3 as "National Sovereignty Day"... Special Statement on the First Anniversary of the "Revolution of Light"

To Be Designated Through National Assembly Legislation
Commemorating the Defense of Constitutional Order and Democracy
"People Who Overcame Martial Law Fully Deserve the Nobel Prize"… Validity Under Review
"Strict Punishment Needed for Palace Cou

President Lee Jaemyung, marking the first anniversary of the 12·3 Martial Law, announced that “as long as the Republic of Korea exists, we will jointly commemorate the day we defended constitutional order and democracy,” and stated that he would designate December 3 as “National Sovereignty Day” through the legislative process in the National Assembly. He also assessed that the people, who overcame the crisis through peaceful means, are fully deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Yonhap News Agency

In a special statement titled “One Year of the Revolution of Light” released on the 3rd, President Lee said, “The 12·3 coup was an occasion that made the world aware of our people’s strong sense of sovereignty and the remarkable resilience of Korean democracy.” He added, “It was the first time in world history that a palace coup occurred and that unarmed citizens peacefully and beautifully thwarted the coup.”

President Lee recalled, one by one, the images of citizens who stood against martial law in the National Assembly and on the streets a year ago, repeatedly expressing his gratitude to the “great Korean people who demonstrated the shining power of bold courage and solidarity.” He said, “You stood in the way of armored vehicles heading to the National Assembly with nothing but your bodies, protested to the police who were blocking the parliament, and opened a path so lawmakers could climb over the walls.” He continued, “I remember the young people who guarded the entrance of the National Assembly all night to prevent a possible second martial law, and the citizens who braved the cold asphalt in the middle of winter, relying on nothing but a single emergency blanket in the falling snow.”

Based on this assessment, President Lee declared that he would designate December 3 as “National Sovereignty Day” to honor the courage and actions of the people. He stated, “As long as the Republic of Korea exists, we will commemorate together the defense of constitutional order and democracy, and use this as an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to a stronger democracy.”

However, he also made it clear that challenges remain. President Lee said, “The ‘Revolution of Light’ is not yet over,” and added, “The investigation and trials of those involved in the rebellion, as well as uncovering the full truth, are still ongoing.” He continued, “Just as the past has saved the present and the dead have helped the living, it is the solemn duty of the government of national sovereignty to ensure that the ‘Revolution of Light’ saves the future and helps our descendants.”

In particular, President Lee emphasized the need for strict punishment of those who participated in the palace coup. He said, “Their audacity in destroying constitutional order and even plotting war for personal ambition must be judged without fail,” and added, “To create a country where no one can even dream of a coup again, and where no one can threaten the light of national sovereignty, ‘righteous integration’ is essential.” He concluded, “Together with the great Korean people who have illuminated the light of democracy, we will complete the ‘Revolution of Light.’”

Yonhap News Agency

President Lee defined the 12·3 incident and the process of overcoming it as a historic event that will be remembered in the history of world democracy. He said, “Democracy is one of the greatest systems in history, but it is not perfect in itself. The fact that our people defeated illegal martial law and ousted unjust power through peaceful means and procedures set forth by the Constitution and the law proves how powerful democratic institutions and peaceful solutions can be when exercised by a sovereign people.”

He went on to say that he is confident the Korean people, who overcame an unprecedented crisis of democracy through peaceful means, are fully qualified to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. President Lee stated, “If the Korean people are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for saving democracy, restoring peace, and showing the greatness of democracy to the world, it will become a major turning point for all countries shaken by conflict and division.”

Yonhap News Agency

In the subsequent Q&A session, President Lee said that many facts remain undisclosed and emphasized that the rebellion must be thoroughly eradicated to prevent recurrence, even if it takes time. He said, “If early airspace entry had been permitted for the helicopters heading to the National Assembly, the outcome could have been different. Truly, it was divine intervention that stopped it. Even if it takes time, we must never allow ourselves or future generations to face such dangers again.” He added, “There still appear to be many unresolved issues,” and said he believes the National Assembly should appropriately decide on the matter of an additional special prosecutor team.

He also reiterated the meaning of “righteous integration” as stated in the declaration. In response to the question, “How far does the scope of righteous integration extend?” President Lee said, “It is about moving forward together based on justice, common sense, the law, and morality-something everyone can agree on. Sometimes, people ask for their wrongdoings to be overlooked for the sake of integration, or for things to be covered up. Righteous integration is not about patching things up, but about true integration.”

Regarding the continued depreciation of the Korean won and rising prices since the 12·3 Martial Law, President Lee said, “The worst situation is when prices rise during an economic downturn. Currently, prices are fairly stable and the economy is recovering at a rapid pace. While this is not the case overall, perceived inflation may be high, which can cause significant hardship for our people, so we will respond meticulously.”

Additionally, President Lee expressed his gratitude to the opposition People Power Party for reaching an agreement to pass next year’s budget bill by the legal deadline the previous day. He added, “Perhaps that is one aspect of politics. Even when fighting fiercely, they have shown a model example by getting the job done, and I am grateful for that.”

Meanwhile, after concluding a press conference for foreign journalists under the theme “A New Democracy, One Year On,” President Lee will host a luncheon at the presidential office with five key figures: National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, Constitutional Court President Kim Sanghwan, Prime Minister Kim Minseok, and National Election Commission Chairman Noh Taeak. This is expected to be a time to reflect on the significance and challenges of the first anniversary of the Revolution of Light. At 7 p.m. on the same day, President Lee, together with Prime Minister Kim and others, will attend the “Citizens’ March for the Eradication and End of Rebellion and Treason, and Grand Social Reform,” organized by civic groups and political parties.