Governor Kim Youngrok: "Spirit of the June 10 Uprising... Toward a Mature Democracy"

Delivering the 38th Anniversary Message
Honoring the People's Victory

On June 10, Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, commemorated the 38th anniversary of the June 10 Democratic Uprising, pledging to honor this historic day when the great people triumphed over the darkness of dictatorship and to work together to build a more mature democratic society.

The June 10 Democratic Uprising of 1987 was a nationwide movement in which citizens longing for democratization rose up like wildfire, chanting "Abolish the Constitutional Protection, End Dictatorship." The spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement of 1980 was transformed, over seven years, into a nationwide aspiration for democracy.

Students and office workers in ties joined the movement, and buses, taxis, and private cars expressed their support by honking their horns. This led to the June 29 Declaration and the achievement of direct presidential elections, marking the true beginning of democracy in the Republic of Korea.

Governor Kim stated, "The democracy achieved through blood and sweat has become a solid foundation for the Republic of Korea over the past 38 years, and the people have matured to the point where they can peacefully and legally change administrations themselves." He emphasized, "That noble spirit overcame the illegal December 3 Martial Law and, in accordance with the people's wishes, ushered in the era of popular sovereignty under the Lee Jaemyung administration."

He continued, "Jeollanam-do will firmly uphold the spirit of the June 10 Democratic Uprising. This year, we have newly established the Honorary Allowance for Democratization Movement participants, and we will further honor those who protected democracy in this land and fully pass on their spirit to future generations." He added, "We pray for the eternal rest of countless democratic martyrs, including Park Jongcheol and Lee Hanyeol, who sacrificed themselves for democratization, and we will work together to create a more mature democratic society."

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