Mayor Lee Yong-seop: "Let's Overcome COVID-19 with the Spirit of Gwangju 3·15 Uprising"

60th Anniversary Statement Released... "The March 15 Gwangju Citizen Uprising Was the Spark for the April 19 Revolution"

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop is delivering a greeting at the 4th Gwangju 3·15 Uprising Meritorious Service Award Ceremony held on the 13th to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the March 15 Uprising. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, expressed his determination to wisely overcome the COVID-19 crisis with the spirit of the Gwangju 3·15 Uprising.

On the 13th, Mayor Lee issued a “3·15 Uprising 60th Anniversary Commemorative Statement,” saying, “March 15th is a meaningful day to honor the noble spirit of the democratic martyrs who sacrificed for freedom and democracy on this land by resisting oppression and rigged elections,” and added, “Although the commemorative ceremony cannot be held due to the COVID-19 situation, the value and meaning of the 3·15 Uprising can never be diminished.”

He especially noted, “The Gwangju 3·15 Uprising, which began as a citizens’ revolt against the organized rigged election of the Syngman Rhee dictatorship on March 15, 1960, in Gwangju, led to the Masan citizens’ uprising and became the catalyst for the April 19 Revolution. It is recognized as a great milestone that must be remembered in the 100-year history of the democratic republic,” and said, “Properly remembering and recording this is the responsibility and role of future generations, as it is the continuation and development of a just history.”

He went on to explain, “To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 3·15 Uprising, Gwangju City plans to install a monument in the Geumnam-ro Park area this year.”

Mayor Lee emphasized, “Inheriting the will of righteous predecessors, we are wisely overcoming the national crisis of COVID-19 with the spirit of sharing and solidarity of Gwangju,” and added, “Whenever the country faces difficulties, the special DNA of Gwangju citizens, who have turned the tide of history through self-sacrifice by following the spirit of the times and the greater good, will be fully demonstrated again to protect Gwangju and the Republic of Korea.”

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the 3·15 Uprising, Gwangju City awarded commendations to four individuals?Kim Gyeong-cheon, Lee Sang-ok, Kim Gyeong-eun, and Yang Seung-gu?who devoted themselves to and contributed to the democratization movement at that time.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.