President Lee: Building a Nation Honoring Fallen Heroes

President Lee Jae-myung delivers a commemorative speech at the 71st Memorial Day ceremony held at the National Cemetery in Seoul on June 6. [Photo=Yonhap News]

President Lee Jae-myung stated on Memorial Day, June 6, that the government will work diligently to overcome crises with the people and create a proud Republic of Korea, a nation that the fallen heroes and patriots longed for. In his speech at the 71st Memorial Day ceremony held at the National Cemetery in Seoul, President Lee emphasized, "The strength of the Korean people to unite as a larger 'us' in the face of national crises will enable us to overcome any challenge." He highlighted that creating a society where peace and prosperity abound is the best way to honor the sacrifices of the fallen heroes and to further illuminate their noble spirit. Full text of President Lee Jae-myung's speech on Memorial Day: Dear citizens, To the national veterans and bereaved families, On this 71st Memorial Day, I pay tribute to the noble sacrifices of the patriots and fallen heroes who dedicated their lives for the Republic of Korea. I extend my deep respect to the national veterans and their families who have devoted themselves for all of us. Today, we are joined by the families of the late Sergeant Lee Jae-seok, who sacrificed his life in the sea after giving his life jacket to save another, and the families of the late Warrant Officers Jeong Sang-geun and Jang Hee-seong, who held onto the helicopter controls until the end to protect the safety of the people. I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt condolences. Our citizens and the Republic of Korea will forever remember the noble spirit of the deceased. Dear citizens, Today is a day for all of us to remember, record, and take responsibility for the noble spirit of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation. We stand on the foundation of 'all tomorrows' that they sacrificed. Independence activists dedicated their lives to reclaiming our lost nation. The fallen heroes fought through smoke and fire for the country and the people. Democratic citizens stood against the violence of dictatorship, building a strong democratic nation. Without their noble sacrifices and dedication, the Republic of Korea, which the world admires today, would not exist, nor would our free and peaceful daily lives be possible. Honoring the spirit of our ancestors and giving them the respect they deserve is a historical and social duty we must fulfill. Respect for dedication is the driving force that sustains our national community and propels us forward. If the sacrifices made for all are overlooked, who will step forward for the community in the face of future crises? Therefore, special sacrifices for all must be accompanied by appropriate special compensation and recognition. Recognition and compensation are not just words; they must be enacted. The government of the people is steadily fulfilling the promises made here on Memorial Day last year. The amendment to the 'Independence Activists Law' to expand compensation for the families of independence activists has passed the National Assembly and will take effect next year. Spouses of veterans who have passed away will receive living support funds. We are also making progress in our commitment to establish a comprehensive veterans medical system by gradually expanding contracted medical institutions. We are preparing to designate semi-veteran hospitals in Gangwon and Jeju, where there are no veterans hospitals, to ensure the best medical benefits. We will keep our promises and ensure that we repay the noble sacrifices made for all. In addition to honoring those who protected the community, it is also our crucial duty to hold accountable those who betrayed the community for personal gain. When we elevate dedication and condemn betrayal, we can achieve a just integration for the sustainability and development of our national community. Through the 'Pro-Japanese Property Recovery Act' enacted on June 2, we will investigate and recover the unjustly accumulated wealth of pro-Japanese collaborators and hold them accountable while setting a precedent to prevent recurrence. Just as we must honor those who protected the past, we must also give due recognition to the 'uniformed citizens' who are safeguarding the present. Thanks to the dedication of military personnel, firefighters, police, and coast guard officers, our citizens can enjoy peace of mind in their daily lives today. The government will firmly support 'uniformed citizens' so that they can focus solely on their essential duties for the nation and the people without any shortcomings. We will ensure that soldiers who are injured during service can receive recognition as veterans upon discharge. We are also providing family support allowances to all 'disabled veterans' who were relatively neglected until now. We promise to continue to carefully monitor their treatment and firmly improve any shortcomings. Dear citizens, From our predecessors to the present, whenever the national community faced a critical crisis, we, the Korean people, have united to overcome hardships. That spirit continues through the sacrifices of the fallen heroes and is vividly etched in our hearts today. The Republic of Korea is once again riding the waves of crisis. Just as we were normalizing a nation torn apart by civil war, the high waves of the Middle Eastern conflict have hit us hard, significantly impacting our economy and lives. However, I am confident that we can overcome any crisis because the strength of the Korean people to unite as a larger 'us' in the face of national crises is unwavering. The government will work with the people to overcome this crisis and strive to create a proud Republic of Korea, a nation that the fallen heroes and patriots longed for. A country where everyone can enjoy an equal life regardless of where they live, a safe country where everyone can live without fear, a hopeful nation where a better tomorrow is anticipated, a Republic of Korea filled with peace and prosperity, where we live together harmoniously. I am convinced that creating such a proud nation is the right way to honor the sacrifices of the fallen heroes and to further illuminate their noble spirit. Once again, on this 71st Memorial Day, I pay tribute to the noble sacrifices and dedication of the fallen heroes and patriots. Thank you.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Kim Bongcheol nicebong@ajunews.com