Lee designates Dec. 3 as ‘People’s Sovereignty Day’

Dec 03, 2025, 09:38 am

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President Lee Jae-myung delivers a special national address marking the first anniversary of the December 3 martial-law crisis at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on December 3. / Yonhap

President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday declared that December 3 will be designated as “People’s Sovereignty Day,” marking the first anniversary of what his administration calls the “Revolution of Light,” born out of public resistance against last year’s martial-law attempt.

Announcing a special national address at the Yongsan presidential office, Lee said the new designation honors “the courage and action of the Korean people,” adding that delivering on the legacy of the Revolution of Light is a solemn duty of the people’s sovereignty government. “The strict punishment of those who took part in the coup attempt is only the beginning,” he said.

Lee said that establishing People’s Sovereignty Day would ensure that “as long as the Republic of Korea exists, we collectively remember how we defended constitutional order and democracy, and renew our commitment to a stronger democracy.”

Lee called the December 3 coup attempt not merely a domestic political crisis but a moment that could have triggered global democratic backsliding. “As many foreign media noted, had Korea’s democracy collapsed, democratic retreat could have spread across Asia and the world,” he said.

He asserted that the Korean public, having peacefully overcome an unprecedented democratic crisis, “deserves the Nobel Peace Prize,” noting that such recognition would offer a powerful message to countries shaken by division and conflict. “If the Korean people were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for saving democracy and restoring peace, it would be a major turning point for nations struggling with turbulence,” he said.

While underscoring progress, Lee stressed that the Revolution of Light is “not yet complete.”

“The truth of the insurrection, along with ongoing investigations and trials of those involved, remains to be fully addressed,” he said. He added that the government must ensure that the Revolution of Light becomes a force for securing the future and supporting the next generation. “Just as the past saved the present, the Revolution of Light must save the future.”

Calling for decisive accountability, Lee said, “Punishing those who participated in the loyalist coup is essential. Those who shattered constitutional order and even plotted war for personal ambition must face judgment.”

Lee emphasized that creating a country where “no one can ever dream of a coup again” requires what he called “just unity”—a vision that places democratic principles and public sovereignty above division.

Lee closed his statement by vowing to complete the Revolution of Light with the Korean people. “With the great citizens who lit the torch of democracy, we will finish what we started,” he said. “We will build a more prosperous, stronger, and more humane nation. I ask the people to walk with us on this hopeful journey as steadfast partners in writing a new chapter of Korea’s history.”

#People’s Sovereignty Day declaration #Revolution of Light anniversary #Coup attempt accountability