Mayor Lee Yong-seop: “Solidarity with Myanmar, a Gwangju-style Step Forward for Democracy Development”

Gwangju City Holds Ceremony Commemorating the 61st Anniversary of the April 19 Revolution

Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, is delivering a commemorative speech at the '61st Anniversary of the April 19 Revolution Ceremony' held on the morning of the 19th at Bitgoeul Citizen Culture Center in Nam-gu. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City held the 61st anniversary 4·19 Revolution Commemoration Ceremony on the morning of the 19th at Bitgoeul Citizen Culture Hall to honor the noble spirit of sacrifice of the 4·19 Revolution contributors who contributed to democracy in Korea.

The ceremony began with a performance of the municipal Changgeuk troupe's play "Dongrak (同樂)," followed by the opening and national ceremony, a report on the progress of the 4·19 Revolution, awards for patriots, commemorative speeches, commemorative performances, and the singing of the 4·19 song.

For the patriots, Kim Young-gap, Kim Hyo-sook, Park Se-hyang, Jeon Hae-ryong, Jeong Ju-young, and Han Sam-mu were selected and awarded plaques of commendation. The commemorative performance was a creative musical by the "Cultural Community Ddancheong" that reenacted the situation during the 4·19 Revolution to mourn the souls who sacrificed for democratization.

Gwangju City is also conducting various side events such as the 4·19 Revolution Victims Memorial Cultural Festival, an exhibition of 4·19 Revolution historical materials, and the display of the national flag along major arterial roads to reflect on the significance of the 4·19 Revolution.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said in his commemorative speech, "The noble value of the 4·19 Revolution became the root that led to the current Republic of Korea, continuing through the May 18 Democratic Movement, the June Struggle, and the Candlelight Revolution," adding, "Let us unite our efforts for the just and prosperous dream of Gwangju that the citizens who stood against unjust power with their whole bodies 61 years ago so earnestly wished for."

Mayor Lee also emphasized solidarity with Myanmar, stating, "Our city, in the spirit of the 4·19 Revolution, strongly urged the international community to pay close attention and show strong solidarity for Myanmar, which is fighting against military dictatorship for democratization," and added, "This is also a proud continuation of our history, and a Gwangju-style step to expand and develop democracy, justice, and the universal human values of human dignity, which were defended at the cost of lives, through solidarity with the international community."

Meanwhile, Gwangju City is promoting the construction of a 4·19 Revolution Memorial Tower within the 4·19 Memorial Monument area in Gwangju History Park, aiming for completion in August, to inform the significance of the 4·19 Revolution and to commemorate the victims.

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