President Lee Jae-myung expressed his respect and solidarity with journalists who risk their lives to uphold democracy and human rights in conflict zones.
On social media, President Lee reflected on how the Gwangju Democracy Movement of May 18, 1980, was a turning point in his life. He credited those who sought to reveal the atrocities hidden and distorted by the state and the media, stating, "I thought, 'I should pursue a path that is most beneficial to society,' and that changed my life."
He also mentioned the late Jurgen Hinzpeter, the foreign correspondent who documented the Gwangju uprising in the film "A Taxi Driver." President Lee emphasized the courage and dedication of today’s video journalists who continue to report from dangerous areas.
Although he could not attend the Hintzpeter International Reporting Award ceremony held in Gwangju, President Lee sent a congratulatory message. He praised the work of journalists who uncover the truth in environments where silence is enforced, stating that their records help stop injustice and promote peace.
He urged the public to pay attention to the values of democracy, human rights, and peace that the Hintzpeter International Reporting Award represents.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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