Mayor Lee Pilhyung Continues Annual Visits to Gwangju Since Taking Office
Plans to Pay Tribute at Seoul National Cemetery on January 1
Lee Pilhyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District in Seoul, will begin the last day of the year and the first day of the new year at sites commemorating democracy and national defense. Dongdaemun District announced that Mayor Lee and 23 relevant district officials will pay their respects at the Gwangju National May 18 Democratic Cemetery on December 30, and visit the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong on January 1.
On December 30, Mayor Lee and his delegation honored the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for democracy by laying flowers and offering incense at the May 18 Democratic Cemetery. In the guestbook, Mayor Lee wrote, "The spirit of May 18 is the guiding light that opens the path for Dongdaemun District."
Mayor Lee, who is serving his first term, was elected as the head of Dongdaemun District in 2022 as a candidate from the People Power Party, marking the first such victory in 12 years. He is a former National Intelligence Service (formerly the Agency for National Security Planning) officer and has served as an administrator in the Office of the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, as well as a working committee member of the Presidential Transition Committee for President Lee Myung-bak.
The visit was attended by the heads of the Financial and Economic Bureau, Future Environment Bureau, Smart Transportation Bureau, Construction and Safety Bureau, as well as other bureau chiefs and senior officials. Dongdaemun District stated, "This event served as an opportunity to reaffirm that the sacrifices made on May 18 support today's institutions and communities."
This year's visit to Gwangju marks the fourth consecutive year that Mayor Lee has continued this tradition at the end of each year since taking office in 2022. The district explained, "The purpose is to reflect on the value of democracy at its very site and to connect it with the principles of administration."
On January 1, the first day of the new year, Mayor Lee will pay tribute at the Memorial Tower of the Seoul National Cemetery. The plan is to lay flowers and observe a moment of silence before the spirits of the nation's fallen heroes, reaffirming the commitment to national defense.
The district stated, "The foundations of democracy and the spirit of national defense are the starting points of urban administration," adding, "We hope that the New Year's Day tribute will serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the principles of community and the safety of our residents."
Mayor Lee Pilhyung said, "Democracy is not something that is automatically maintained once established; it is a value that must be protected and nurtured every day," adding, "In the new year, I will not forget the basics of public service and will fulfill my responsibilities to the fullest."
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