Yoon calls for May 18 spirit to defend democracy

May 19, 2023, 08:57 am

		0
President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a commemorative speech during a ceremony to mark the 43rd anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju on May 18, 2023./ Source: Yonhap

AsiaToday reporter Lee Wook-jae

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Thursday called for the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising to be upheld with courage to stand up to forces that threaten freedom and democracy.

Yoon attended a commemorative ceremony in the southwestern city of Gwangju to mark the 43rd anniversary of the uprising. In a commemorative speech, Yoon said, “The May spirit is ordering us to protect liberal democracy.”

Yoon attended the annual ceremony for two consecutive years. He broke away from the tradition of entering with major figures. Instead, he greeted mothers of some of the young students victimized in the uprising and walked about 200 meters along the memorial tower together with them.

“The liberal democracy was not obtained by itself, but defended by the sacrifice and dedication of many people,” he said, adding, “Gwangju is the historical location where the values of liberal democracy and human rights in the country were defended.”

“The May spirit is nothing less than the liberal democratic spirit as enshrined in the Constitution and is a precious asset that should be passed down,” he said. “It is a unifying force that binds us together.”

“If we do not fight against internal and external challenges that lead to the crisis of democracy, we will be ashamed to talk about the May spirit,” Yoon said.

“The May spirit is completed by industrial achievements and economic development in Gwangju and Honam through freedom, creativity and innovation,” he said. “I will properly support the innovation spirit of Gwangju and the surrounding Jeolla region to advance AI and cutting-edge science technology.”

“We must all protect and practice our liberal democracy facing threats and challenges in the spirit of May, and achieve industrial advancement and economic prosperity in the spirit of creativity and innovation,” he said.

#Yoon Suk-yeol #May 18 #Gwangju #Gwangju Democratic Uprising