[Full Text] President Moon Jae-in's Commemorative Speech at the '60th Anniversary of the April 19 Revolution Ceremony'

President Moon Jae-in delivers a commemorative speech at the 60th anniversary of the April 19 Revolution ceremony held at the National April 19 Democratic Cemetery in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 19th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] President Moon Jae-in said on the 19th, "The April 19 Revolution is the firm root of democracy in the Republic of Korea," adding, "It was a revolution that judged the power that violated 'sovereignty of the people' and broke down political and social oppression." He continued, "The 'time of dictatorship' that began with the May 16 military coup was long and dark, but the 'April 19 democratic ideals' were ultimately engraved in the spirit of our constitution."

On the morning of the same day at 10 a.m., President Moon attended the 60th anniversary April 19 Revolution commemorative ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs at the National April 19 Democratic Cemetery in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. Regarding the COVID-19 situation, he said, "The government will prepare a new normal and a new world order of the 'post-COVID' era with the united power of the people," emphasizing, "We must overcome not only the virus but also the worst economic crisis since the foreign exchange crisis together. The 'solidarity and cooperation' of the people are also necessary to revive the economy."

Below is the full text of President Moon's commemorative speech.

[President Moon Jae-in’s Commemorative Speech on the 60th Anniversary of the April 19 Revolution]

Respected citizens,

Honored April 19 Revolution patriots and their families,

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the April 19 Revolution.

It was the day when democracy was deeply planted in our hearts with a passion hotter than life itself.

Through fierce resistance against dictatorship,

we realized that justice can live if we unite,

and we became democrats advancing toward greater democracy.

Since that passionate day,

every April, azaleas bloom profusely,

and whenever azalea petals scatter,

we remember the souls who fell for democracy.

In our hearts grew an indomitable courage that does not yield to dictatorship

and an unstoppable hope.

The April 19 Revolution was not a sudden uprising.

On February 28, 1960, high school students in Daegu first

raised the torch of justice, shouting 'Down with dictatorship.'

On March 8, students in Daejeon responded with the 'flag of democracy and freedom,'

and when the fraudulent March 15 election was carried out,

high school students and citizens in Masan

rushed into the streets and initiated an uprising.

The body of martyr Kim Ju-yeol, a high school student,

floated in the sea off Masan in a tragic state,

and the flame of the March 15 uprising spread nationwide,

culminating on April 19,

when students and citizens in Seoul took to the streets to 'overthrow dictatorship.'

The great values of the Republic of Korea?freedom, democracy, equality, justice, and peace?

were revived by the voices of ordinary people.

The April 19 Revolution was the result of the accumulated empathy and spirit of resistance of the entire nation toward democracy.

In 2018, the government finally

designated the February 28 Daegu Democratic Movement and the March 8 Daejeon Democratic Uprising as national memorial days,

commemorating them as connected history along with the March 15 Masan Uprising that led the April 19 Revolution.

Today,

patriots and families of the February 28 Daegu Democratic Movement, March 8 Daejeon Democratic Uprising, March 15 Masan Uprising,

and the April 19 Revolution are gathered here.

We extend our deep respect and gratitude to the protagonists who planted the great history of democracy on this land 60 years ago.

Dear citizens,

The April 19 Revolution is the firm root of democracy in the Republic of Korea.

It was a revolution that judged the power that violated 'sovereignty of the people'

and broke down political and social oppression.

The power of each citizen united

to restore the principle of the democratic republic that 'sovereignty of the Republic of Korea lies with the people, and all power comes from the people.'

Students demanded democratization of schools,

workers organized labor unions,

and teachers opened the path for democratic civic education.

Families of the Jeju April 3 Incident and victims of civilian massacres nationwide

also shed forced silence and found the courage to uncover the truth.

The 'time of democracy' left by the April 19 Revolution was short but intense.

The 'time of dictatorship' that began with the May 16 military coup was long and dark,

but the 'April 19 democratic ideals' were ultimately engraved in the spirit of our constitution.

With a yearning for democracy,

the people who endured the harsh era by relying on and encouraging each other

passed through the Bu-Ma Democratic Uprising, the May 18 Democratization Movement, and the June Democratic Uprising,

and finally reached the sky of the April 19 Revolution day with the 2016 Candlelight Revolution.

We must always remember the great history of democracy on this land

and, with that pride, continuously advance toward a more mature democracy.

The strength to overcome the severe situation of COVID-19 today

also stems from the autonomous civic consciousness based on the April 19 spirit.

The people put 'we' before 'me' and sacrificed their daily lives,

overcoming difficulties together without panic buying.

The democracy we protected under oppression,

and the solidarity and cooperation we nurtured through shared sorrow,

are becoming a model for the world facing difficulties together,

which is very proud.

Leaders of many countries around the world now

also emphasize the importance of international cooperation.

They agree that only global solidarity, not lockdowns and isolation,

can create new hope.

We know very well that we can overcome the crisis only by holding each other's hands.

Many challenges remain,

and we cannot let our guard down until the last confirmed patient is fully recovered,

but with strong 'solidarity and cooperation' based on openness, transparency, and democracy,

we will surely overcome COVID-19 and become a hope for the world.

Dear citizens,

The IMF has diagnosed the current economic situation as the worst economic recession since the Great Depression of the 1920s and 1930s.

Our country is no exception.

The IMF predicts that Korea will record a growth rate of minus 1.2% this year. We must overcome not only the virus but also

the worst economic crisis since the foreign exchange crisis together.

The key is to protect jobs.

We must help companies and workers maintain employment,

and protect the lives of small business owners and self-employed people.

The IMF expects Korea to rank first in growth rate among 36 OECD countries this year.

However, if many people lose their jobs and citizens' lives collapse amid simultaneous declines in production, investment, consumption, and exports,

being number one in growth rate will never be a consolation.

The government will do its utmost to revive the economy and protect the lives of the people.

But amid the severe global economic crisis,

the government's efforts alone are insufficient.

The 'solidarity and cooperation' of the people are also necessary to revive the economy.

In particular, it is absolutely necessary for labor and management to cooperate and put their heads together to protect jobs.

The government will prioritize support for companies that maintain employment through labor-management agreements.

Along with that, the government will also strengthen employment and social safety nets for those who have lost their jobs.

We ask the National Assembly and the people to unite their hearts to overcome the economic crisis that came along with the infectious disease.

Expanding beyond the political and civic democracy pursued by the April 19 Revolution,

to practical democracy that guarantees the lives of all citizens,

is the April 19 spirit we must realize today.

Our people have given the world hope that COVID-19 can be overcome,

and at the same time, are drawing attention to how to respond to the social and economic difficulties after COVID-19.

If we can overcome the 'post-COVID' situation that the whole world will face together

with the power of 'solidarity and cooperation' based again on openness, transparency, and democracy,

we will give great courage to the world.

We will be able to create new global norms and standards in many fields such as economy, industry, education, health, and safety.

The government will prepare a new normal of the 'post-COVID' era

and a new world order with the united power of the people.

Respected citizens,

April 19 Revolution patriots and their families,

The true lesson the April 19 Revolution gives us today

is that yesterday's experiences shape today's and tomorrow's us.

The government has expanded awards for democratic patriots

to inherit the 'April 19 spirit' together with the people.

From last year to this year, 51 April 19 Revolution patriots

have been newly awarded,

and today it is very meaningful to directly award five patriots and their families.

The government will discover the merits of April 19 Revolution participants that have not yet been revealed,

engraving and honoring each name in the history of democracy.

This National April 19 Democratic Cemetery is a sacred place of democracy.

By 2022, we will expand the insufficient burial capacity

to honorably accommodate all patriots.

Also, the 'April 19 Revolution National Cultural Festival,' postponed to the second half of the year,

will be supported to become a festival for all citizens worthy of the 60th anniversary.

The April 19 Revolution was the first democratization movement among countries that gained independence after World War II,

and also the beginning of student movements worldwide.

The government will specially honor its significance

and promote the registration of April 19 Revolution records as UNESCO World Documentary Heritage to leave the spirit of the April 19 Revolution to humanity.

After the April 19 Revolution, poet Kim Soo-young sang of

"grass that cries faster than the wind and rises before the wind."

Our people have practiced democracy by rising before the wind whenever the country was in difficulty,

and through the process of overcoming COVID-19,

we have once again confirmed how democracy within us exerts its power.

Every spring, azaleas will overcome sorrow

and beautifully color the mountains and rivers.

Our ancestors who stood with the April 19 Revolution

will be forever remembered as symbols of democracy.

Thank you.

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