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President says 'spirit of patriots will boost freedom, help joint prosperity'
Source
KOREA.net
Date
2023.03.03

President Yoon Suk Yeol on March 1 gives a speech at a commemorative ceremony for the 104th anniversary of the March First Independence Movement at the Memorial Hall of Yu Gwan-sun in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

President Yoon Suk Yeol on March 1 gives a speech at a commemorative ceremony for the 104th anniversary of the March First Independence Movement at the Memorial Hall of Yu Gwan-sun in Seoul's Jung-gu District.



President Yoon Suk Yeol on March 1 said, "We must stand in solidarity with countries that share universal values in order to contribute to promoting the freedom of global citizens and the common prosperity of all humankind."

He was speaking at a commemorative ceremony for the 104th anniversary of the March First Independence Movement under the theme "Again, Republic of Korea! A new nation of the people" (unofficial translation) at the Memorial Hall of Yu Gwan-sun in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

"This spirit of solidarity and cooperation is the same spirit that called for our nation's freedom and independence 104 years ago," the president said. "The prosperity that we enjoy today is the result of our ceaseless efforts to defend and expand our freedom as well as our enduring belief in universal values. We must never stop making such effort."


President Yoon Suk Yeol (middle) and first lady Kim Keon Hee (right) on March 1 sing the song of the March First Independence Movement at a commemorative ceremony for the historic event's 104th anniversary at the Memorial Hall of Yu Gwan-sun in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

President Yoon Suk Yeol (middle) and first lady Kim Keon Hee (right) on March 1 sing the song of the March First Independence Movement at a commemorative ceremony for the historic event's 104th anniversary at the Memorial Hall of Yu Gwan-sun in Seoul's Jung-gu District.



Calling March 1, 1919, a "historic day," he added, "On that day our people showed to the whole world how much they yearned for change. The movement was an embodiment of their vision of the new world they dreamed of."

The president urged the nation to look back to the past and read the changing trends of world history to prepare for the future. "In particular, the trilateral cooperation among the Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan has become more important than ever to overcome the security crises including North Korea’s growing nuclear threats and global polycrisis," he added.

The estimated 1,300 people in attendance included patriots and independence activists and their bereaved families, high-ranking officials, representatives from a range of sectors and diplomatic corps in Korea. Among the 104 independence fighters eligible for national honors, the families of five of them received medals at the ceremony.


Photos = Office of the President

By Xu Aiying
xuaiy@korea.kr