[Full Text] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum's June 10 Democratic Uprising Commemorative Speech: "We Must Protect 'Democracy and Human Rights' Despite Any Hardships"

34th Anniversary 6·10 Minju Hangjaeng Commemoration Ceremony

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum salutes the national flag at the June 10 Democratic Uprising Commemoration Ceremony held at the Democracy and Human Rights Memorial in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on June 10, 2021. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on the 10th, "Our people have always united with one heart to set history and justice right whenever democracy was in crisis," adding, "No matter what difficulties arise, we must protect the values of democracy and human rights."

In his commemorative speech at the '34th Anniversary of the June 10 Democratic Uprising Ceremony' held at the planned site of the Democracy and Human Rights Memorial Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul (former Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office) on the morning of the same day, Prime Minister Kim emphasized, "We know that the indomitable courage to fight against dictatorship and injustice stemmed from solidarity and love for our neighbors," and added, "With that deep affection and generous tolerance toward the community, our democracy must now move forward."

He continued, "Democracy is a beautiful journey of recognizing each other's differences and finding a better path together," and added, "We must diligently ask and find a path that more citizens can walk together."

Below is the full text of Prime Minister Kim's commemorative speech.

[Full Text]

Respected citizens,

and recipients of government awards and bereaved families who have devoted and sacrificed for democracy,

34 years ago today,

we took to the streets and squares

with a passionate desire for democracy in our hearts.

Through the April 19 Revolution, the Bu-Ma Democratic Uprising,

and the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement,

we shouted for the 'abolition of the constitutional amendment' and 'overthrow of dictatorship' with the power condensed from the citizens.

And finally, the people won.

Thirty-four years have passed since then.

The spirit of that hot June was inherited by the candlelight protests and advanced history,

shining with mature civic consciousness amid the COVID-19 crisis,

becoming a model for the world.

However, we still have

unresolved past issues.

There are still deaths whose truth has not been revealed.

There are still those who have not healed from wounds inflicted by state violence.

Those who have endured for many years,

waiting only for the day of complete restoration of honor,

we must now ease their burdened hearts.

Last year, right here,

we awarded government honors for the first time

to those who contributed to the development of democracy in the Republic of Korea.

And today, on behalf of the President,

including three who supported our democratization movement from overseas,

we newly awarded government honors to a total of twenty-nine people.

With deep respect and gratitude, I will call out each precious name.

The late Gye Hun-je, who devoted his life to the anti-dictatorship democratization movement,

The late Kang Kyung-dae, who opened the May 1991 struggle,

The late Ko Ho-seok, a key figure in the Bu-Ma Democratic Uprising,

The late Kim Kyung-sook, a flame of the labor movement that toppled the Yushin regime,

The late Kim Geun-tae, a warm democrat,

The late Kim Byung-gon, who accepted the death penalty request from the dictatorship as an honor,

The late Kim Sang-jin, who resisted the harsh Yushin dictatorship with his whole body,

The late Father Kim Young-sik, a strong pillar of the Gyeongnam democratization movement,

The late Kim Ui-gi, who tried to reveal the death and pain of May Gwangju to the world,

The late Kim Han-rim, the eternal secretary of the detainees' families association,

The late Na Byung-sik, who sought to reveal the truth beyond the darkness of the era,

The late Professor Myung No-geun, a leader of the May 18 Democratization Movement,

The late Park Gwan-hyeon, who lit the torch of the May 18 Democratization Movement,

The late Park Rae-jeon, a youth who became the light revealing the truth of Gwangju,

The late Park Young-jin, who fought for a world where workers live with dignity,

The late Professor Seong Rae-woon, who protected education of humanity against the dictatorship,

The late Cho Seong-man, who called for peace and unification of the Korean Peninsula,

The late Yeo Ik-gu, a pioneer of the people's Buddhist movement,

The late Yoo Sang-deok, a cornerstone of the true education movement,

The late Pastor Yoon Ban-woong, a religious leader feared by the Yushin dictatorship,

The late Lee Mok, the root of the true education movement,

The late Jeong Gwang-hoon, who lived his whole life as a friend of farmers,

The late Jeong Tae-gi, who became a model of true journalists,

The late Pyo Jeong-du, a youth of May Gwangju who was always dignified,

The late Hong Seong-yeop, a pure soul married to democracy,

The late Pastor Nakajima Masaaki and painter Tomiyama Taeko, who promoted and supported Korea's democratization movement in Japan,

The late Pastor George Todd, who supported Korea's urban poor movement in the United States in every way,

and Vice Chairman Baek Jin-ho of the 2.28 Democratic Movement Association.

Today, due to COVID-19, we could not invite all the families of the awardees,

but I once again extend my deep respect and gratitude

to all the award recipients and their bereaved families.

Respected citizens,

The government of the Republic of Korea will strive

to fully pass on to future generations

the fact that the democracy we enjoy today

was built with the blood and tears of certain people.

Soon, the symbolic 'Democracy and Human Rights Memorial Hall,'

which represents that promise and determination,

will break ground.

The Democracy and Human Rights Memorial Hall belongs to

all the great Korean people who have endured the hardships of history together.

The Memorial Hall must become a living educational center of the democratization movement

where anyone can vividly see and feel the inalienable values of democracy and human rights.

We hope that all government ministries, including the Democratization Movement Memorial Association,

will take special interest and engage in this meaningful project

to transform this site of state violence during dark times, the former 'Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office,'

into a new sanctuary of democracy and human rights.

Respected citizens,

our people have always united with one heart

to set history and justice right whenever democracy was in crisis.

We also know that the indomitable courage to fight against dictatorship and injustice

originated from solidarity and love for our neighbors.

With that deep affection and generous tolerance toward the community,

our democracy must now move forward.

Democracy is a beautiful journey of recognizing each other's differences

and finding a better path together.

We must diligently ask and find a path

that more citizens can walk together.

That is how we expand the meaning of the democratization movement

and practice the values of democracy in our lives.

On the 34th anniversary of the June 10 Democratic Uprising today,

let all our people join together on the path

to realize true democracy on this land.

On the foundation of solidarity and love for our neighbors,

let us overcome today's crisis and move toward a new future,

creating a hopeful Republic of Korea.

No matter what difficulties arise,

let us surely protect the values of democracy and human rights.

The government will always stand on the side of the great people

and walk together with you.

Thank you.

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