Yoon Seok-yeol Visits National Cemetery... "The Spirit of March 1st Is Not Unconditional Anti-Japan, We Must Surpass Japan Through Self-Reliance"

Visiting the Gravesite with Descendants of Independence Activists and Lawmakers

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Junyi Park and Juhee Kang] On the occasion of the March 1st Movement Day, Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, visited the National Cemetery and said, "If it were not for the patriotic martyrs, how could we live in this free Republic of Korea?"

On the 1st, Yoon visited the National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, to pay respects at the graves of independence activists. Accompanying him were People Power Party lawmakers Yoon Joo-kyung, Kang Min-guk, and Bae Jun-young, who are descendants of independence activists, former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, and former lawmaker Kim Eul-dong.

He paid respects as he toured the Chungnyeoldae, the Shrine for Unidentified Patriots, the Memorial Monument for Provisional Government Figures, and the Memorial Tower for Unknown Soldiers of the Korean Independence Army. After the visit, he wrote in the guestbook, "Inheriting the will of the patriots who paved the way for an independent nation, I will protect the freedom and justice of the Republic of Korea."

Yoon then told reporters, "Although our lives are busy and we often forget to be grateful to our ancestors, I hope that today, all citizens together will reflect on the precious sacrifices of these patriots and think once again about how we should develop this country and how valuable our free democracy is."

On the same day, Yoon posted on Facebook, "Watching the leaders and people of Ukraine continue their tearful resistance to protect their national sovereignty, I offer my deep respect and gratitude for the sacred sacrifices of the patriotic martyrs and national heroes who devoted themselves to the prosperous freedom of the Republic of Korea."

He added, "The spirit of March 1st is not unconditional anti-Japanese sentiment or exclusion of Japan. The March 1st Declaration of Independence already foresaw that old anti-Japanese agitation alone cannot withstand the massive changes in the international community. To truly heal the wounds of the Japanese colonial period and advance as a global pivotal state, we must achieve self-strengthening based on international solidarity and overcome Japan."

He also said, "The spirit of March 1st is the root of the liberal democracy and republicanism embodied in the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. Leaving behind politics of division and hostility and achieving national unity is the proper way for us today to honor the spirit of March 1st."

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