President Lee Promises Constitutional Inclusion of May 18 Spirit and New Registration System

President Lee Jae-myung pledged on May 18 to include the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Movement in the Constitution and to establish a new registration system to address the gaps for democratic heroes. He reiterated the government's unwavering responsibility towards victims of state violence.

President Lee made these key policy announcements during the 46th anniversary commemoration of the May 18 Democratic Movement held at the May 18 Democracy Square in front of the former Jeonnam Provincial Office in Gwangju.

In his commemorative speech, President Lee emphasized the need to enshrine the spirit of May 18 in the Constitution.

He urged bipartisan cooperation, stating, "This is a promise to the people that transcends political interests, and I earnestly ask for the cooperation and determination of both ruling and opposition parties." He stressed, "The democratic ideals of the May 18 Democratic Movement must be firmly inscribed in the Constitution of the Republic of Korea."

President Lee also announced the introduction of the 'May 18 Democratic Heroes Registration System' as part of veterans' policies. He referenced the case of the late Yang Chang-geun, who was not recognized as a hero due to the absence of direct family members to apply for registration, saying, "We will establish a registration system to ensure that not a single sacrifice is overlooked."

He declared, "From now on, the government will become a family for each victim of state violence," and assured, "The state will fulfill its responsibilities to the end."

The President also outlined government support for symbolic spaces related to May 18. He referred to the recently restored former Jeonnam Provincial Office as "the last bastion of citizen resistance against illegal state violence" and vowed to make it a living shrine of K-democracy where citizens from around the world can learn and remember.

President Lee identified the 'May spirit' as a source of strength to overcome the complex crises currently facing South Korea, including weakened growth potential, deepening inequality, upheaval in international order, and regional decline.

He remarked, "I see hope in Gwangju, where joy was shared even under the oppressive rule of a dictatorship armed with guns and swords."

The President's speech connected the resistance in Gwangju in 1980 to the preservation of constitutional order by citizens during the December 3, 2024, martial law crisis.

He stated, "The December 3 insurrection was still an unanswered question from May," and noted, "Just as the citizens of Gwangju confronted the martial law troops in May 1980, the people of South Korea in 2024 stood against armed martial law troops with their bare hands."

He emphasized, "In 1980, in that fleeting moment when the unjust power withdrew, Gwangju gathered all its strength to bloom the 'Great Unity World,' which in 2024 revived as the 'Light Revolution' protecting democracy through the warmth of each other on that harsh winter night."

This year's May 18 commemoration was only the second held in front of the former Jeonnam Provincial Office since the government designated the day as a memorial in 1997. Approximately 3,000 people attended the ceremony, including May 18 Democratic heroes, their families, government officials, and citizens.

Before the event, President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visited the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Gwangju. The couple paid respects at the graves of martyrs Park In-bae, Yang Chang-geun, and Kim Myung-sook, comforting grieving family members.

After the ceremony, they visited the restored former Jeonnam Provincial Office to celebrate its opening and view a special exhibition.

The former Jeonnam Provincial Office is a symbolic site of the May 18 Democratic Movement, where citizens of Gwangju fought to protect democracy in May 1980. Throughout the exhibition, First Lady Kim showed special consideration for Kim Gil-ja, the mother of the late Moon Jae-hak, who inspired the novel 'A Boy Comes.'

President Lee then visited the mayor of Namgu in Gwangju, listening to the voices of citizens and merchants over lunch. The Namgu mayor highlighted the traditional market centered around the former Namgwangju Station, known for its fresh seafood arriving every dawn from the southwestern coast.

The presidential couple enjoyed a meal of dried radish and cod fish at a market restaurant, engaging with the merchant association president, Son Seung-ki, about the local economy and market conditions.