Lee personally presented awards to independence movement meritorious persons at the ceremony before delivering his address.
The following is the full text of President Lee's commemorative address:
Respected citizens of Korea and 7 million compatriots overseas, and independence movement meritorious persons and their families,
107 years ago today, the powerful cries of "Long live Korean independence!" rang out to the world.
On that day, everyone was one. There were no differences of class or status, no differences of age or gender. Yeongnam and Honam were one, and there was no distinction between left and right. From Pyongyang, Seoul, Busan and Sinuiju — truly, from Mount Halla to Mount Baekdu, the entire country was filled with the sound of hurrah.
Our forebears stood against Japanese imperial suppression through active resistance at home, and armed and diplomatic struggle abroad, carrying that spirit forward into the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
Because they united as one for a greater cause beyond small differences, the March 1st Revolution was at last able to bear fruit in the joy of liberation.
On the occasion of the 107th March 1st Independence Movement Day, I offer infinite respect and wholehearted tribute to the patriotic forebears who gave their lives for the independence of our nation. I also extend my deepest gratitude to the four surviving independence movement meritorious persons and their families.
Had it not been for our forebears who threw everything aside for the independence of the motherland and for the hope of tomorrow in which their descendants would live, the free and prosperous Republic of Korea we enjoy today could never have existed.
Therefore, honoring and paying tribute to the devotion of our forebears is a special reward for a special sacrifice, and the minimum measure necessary for the maintenance of our community.
As I announced on Liberation Day, I will take special care to expand the discovery and commendation of undecorated independence movement meritorious persons, and to more substantially support their bereaved families.
I will designate the area around Hyochang Park as the "National Hyochang Independence Park," and establish a broad plan for the utilization of the Shanghai provisional government building, so that the spirit of independence of our forebears may be honored for generations to come.
Furthermore, in this year that marks the 150th birth anniversary of Baekbeom Kim Gu, I will carry on his noble aspirations through commemorative projects in which all citizens can participate together.
I will surely build a fair nation where common sense prevails — where the self-deprecating saying "three generations are ruined if you join the independence movement" disappears, where those who devoted themselves for the nation are respected, and where acts of betrayal against the community are sternly judged.
Respected citizens,
The world a century ago, when the March 1st Revolution broke out, was an era of upheaval in which the strong preyed upon the weak.
Korea and many other nations suffered the pain of losing their sovereignty and enduring colonial rule.
Only after experiencing the devastation of the World Wars did the international community establish new norms to mediate disputes between nations and manage peace.
However, a century later today, the world is once again entering a period of upheaval. The international norms established over the 80-plus years since the World War II are being seriously threatened by the logic of force.
In order not to repeat the same mistakes, we must seek lessons from history.
The spirit of the March 1st Revolution of our forebears offers great teachings to us and people around the world today.
The March 1st Revolution was a declaration of independence and a declaration of peace, a compass that pointed to the future of peace and coexistence toward which we must advance.
Through the March 1st Declaration of Independence, our forebears lamented "the loss of the opportunity to contribute to world culture with new technology and originality."
Upon achieving independence, they also expressed their grand aspiration that they would "illuminate the dawning light of a new civilization in human history with the humanitarian spirit cultivated over thousands of years."
They dreamed of a democratic republic in which the people would be the true masters, and they dreamed of a peaceful world of great harmony — not one that exploited other nations through force, but one in which people understood and supported each other, stood together in solidarity, and lived together in harmony.
This is why, in this era of crisis in which democracy and peace are once again under threat, we must all deeply reflect on the spirit of the March 1st Revolution.
In 1919, we were a powerless colonial people, but the citizens of the Republic of Korea in 2026 are becoming a people with the power to move the hearts of people around the world and with infinite potential to change the world.
The Republic of Korea is the only nation among those liberated from colonialism to have simultaneously achieved industrialization and democratization.
Our great citizens of the Republic of Korea achieved industrialization after liberation through the "Miracle on the Han River."
Even under the oppression of dictatorship, we realized democracy through the April 19th Revolution, the May 18th Democratization Uprising, and the June 10th Democracy Uprising, and we astonished the entire world by illuminating the light of popular sovereignty through the Candlelight Revolution and the Revolution of Light.
Our Republic of Korea, equipped with a top-10 global economic power "sufficient to enrich the lives" of our people and a top-5 global military strength "sufficient to repel the invasions of others," is making the dreams of our forebears into reality — expanding the breadth of understanding and empathy and spreading peace — with our "strength of high culture" that ranks 7th in world influence.
What made this possible was the spirit of the March 1st Revolution that has been continuously passed down through the blood of our people.
The spirit of the March 1st Revolution — which our forebears championed and our people have carried forward — is surely a bright light that will guide the people of the world living through this era of crisis, in which democracy and peace are shaking, toward a new world of hope.
Respected citizens,
Let us begin realizing the dream of peace and coexistence that our forebears so earnestly desired, starting here and now, on the Korean Peninsula.
Building a peaceful Korean Peninsula that grows together — through coexistence and cooperation rather than hostility, on the foundation of trust rather than distrust — is the path to fully inheriting the spirit of the March 1st Revolution.
Let us never turn away from the firm lesson of history that hostility and confrontation bring no benefit to either side.
Let us bring an end to this era of conflict and confrontation that has continued for well over half a century, and advance boldly toward a Korean Peninsula of peace, coexistence, and shared prosperity.
As I have made clear on numerous occasions, our government respects the system of the North, and will neither engage in any hostile acts nor pursue any form of absorption unification.
Just as we have proactively taken various measures to reduce military tensions between the two Koreas and restore mutual trust through actions rather than words, we will consistently pursue the necessary steps for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the restoration of inter-Korean trust.
The drone infiltration incident last year, which occurred entirely contrary to the intentions of this government, was a grave criminal act that threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and something that must never happen.
Any act that provokes tension and conflict on this Korean Peninsula where both Koreas live together cannot be justified by any excuse. So that such a thing never happens again, we will thoroughly investigate the truth, hold those responsible accountable, and establish institutional preventive measures.
We will continue efforts to resume dialogue with the North.
As a "pacemaker," we will communicate with the United States as well as neighboring countries so that North Korea-U.S. dialogue can resume at the earliest possible time.
We will do everything in our power to transform the armistice regime into a peace regime through substantive reduction of inter-Korean tensions and cooperation with relevant nations.
As the North is also establishing and implementing a new five-year plan, we hope it will come to the table for dialogue without delay, leave behind the dark past, and draw a new future together.
We hope that the mansei cries of our forebears, who yearned for world peace, will ring out again as a shared pledge between North and South toward a Korean Peninsula of peace and shared prosperity.
Relations with Japan must also be developed on the basis of the March 1st spirit, which pursued peace and shared prosperity.
The two countries of Korea and Japan have shared a turbulent history.
Throughout our society, painful traces of that history still remain, and there are victims and bereaved families who continue to suffer.
In the past, the two nations opened the door to the normalization of diplomatic relations for the sake of a future of good neighborly friendship and cooperation, even while carrying unhealed pain and wounds.
Over the past 60 years, Korea and Japan have deepened their cooperation in all areas — diplomacy, economy, society, and culture — and have developed their relationship as close neighboring countries sharing a front yard.
Now, as we face a harsh international situation, is precisely the time for Korea and Japan to respond to reality and open the future together.
The people's sovereignty government will make efforts through practical diplomacy to face the past squarely, resolve current challenges together, and advance toward the future together.
We will continue shuttle diplomacy with Japan and actively support both nations' citizens to further feel the effects of relationship development and open new opportunities together.
We expect the Japanese government to respond in kind so that the two countries can open a "new world of good relations based on genuine understanding and empathy."
In order to wisely respond to an era of upheaval, harmony in Northeast Asia is more important than ever.
The late patriot Ahn Jung-geun, through his "Theory of Peace in the East," argued that cooperation among Korea, China, and Japan is the path to contributing to world peace.
Reflecting on the significance of peace and harmony in Northeast Asia, I have visited China and Japan in succession since early this year, emphasizing that the three nations of Korea, China, and Japan must find common ground, communicate, and cooperate.
We will not stop our efforts for harmony and prosperity, as our forebears who sought to carry the peace of Northeast Asia to the peace of the world wished.
Respected 52 million citizens of the Republic of Korea and 7 million compatriots overseas,
Our forebears transcended small differences, united as one, achieved independence, and laid the foundations of the Republic of Korea.
If our great citizens of the Republic of Korea, who have inherited that spirit, pool our strength together and fully exercise the potential we possess, there is no reason we cannot make the peaceful world our forebears dreamed of into reality.
Let us together build the advanced democratic model nation, the peaceful Korean Peninsula free from the fear of war, and the Republic of Korea where culture blossoms and prosperity flourishes — the very things our martyred forebears and patriotic independence fighters gave their lives wishing for.
With the spirit of the March 1st Revolution, let us together open the path of peace and democracy, mutual prosperity and shared benefit.
Together with the great citizens of the Republic of Korea, I will advance toward that light — the light our forebears longed for without ceasing.
Thank you.
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