Lee Joong-geun, Chairman of the UN Association of Korea and Buhyung Group, reiterated his proposal to designate October 24 as 'UN Day' as a national holiday. He expressed his intention to build and donate a building in Seoul comparable to the UN headquarters in New York if the designation is approved.
According to the UN Association of Korea, the association and the Foreign Ministry co-hosted the '81st UN Day' ceremony at the Foreign Ministry building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on October 23. Approximately 350 attendees included Chairman Lee, Foreign Minister Park Jin, government officials, members of the National Assembly, the diplomatic corps in South Korea, representatives from international organizations, and students. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered video messages.
The UN officially launched on October 24, 1945, when its charter came into effect, marking this year as the 81st anniversary of its founding. Since 1948, October 24 has been celebrated annually as 'UN Day.'
In South Korea, it was observed as a public holiday from 1950 to 1975, but was removed from the holiday list in 1976 after North Korea joined UN-affiliated organizations. Currently, October 24 is recognized as 'United Nations Day' under a presidential decree regarding various commemorative days.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Lee proposed the designation of UN Day as a national holiday. He stated, 'I propose the designation of UN Day as a national holiday so that future generations can improve diplomatic relations with UN member countries, expressing gratitude to the UN for contributing to South Korea's emergence as one of the world's top ten economies.'
He added, 'If designated, I hope to repay this favor by building and donating a UN headquarters-style building in Seoul, attracting UN agencies and marking a historic turning point for South Korea to become a center of international peace and prosperity.'
Foreign Minister Park Jin referenced the history of Korea's relationship with the UN, noting the dedication of 22 UN member countries during the Korean War and the UN's support in Korea's industrialization and democratization processes. He highlighted that, on the 35th anniversary of Korea's UN membership, the country has grown to contribute to key UN areas such as peace and security, development, and human rights.
During the event, six major organizations, including the UN Association of Korea, the Korean Liberation Association, the Constitutional Society of Korea, the Korean Veterans Association, the Saemaul Undong Central Association, and the Korean Senior Citizens Association, launched a joint campaign under the slogan 'October 24 UN Day: Passing on the History of Peace to Future Generations.' This initiative follows a previous campaign for the Constitution Day, aimed at reflecting on the history of freedom and peace. The association emphasized the significance of solidifying national solidarity.
Prior to proposing the designation of UN Day as a national holiday, Chairman Lee expressed gratitude to UN veterans by supporting the construction of 23 memorials (including Korea) featuring national symbols and a laurel wreath symbolizing victory at the Peace Plaza of the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan in 2015. These memorials, along with the UN Memorial Park in Busan, are now recognized as two of the world's UN veteran heritage sites, serving as symbolic spaces to honor veterans from various countries.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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