President Roh addresses the ceremony marking the 27th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju democratization movement
Fellow Koreans, citizens of Gwangju and Jeollanam-do,
It seems like only yesterday, but 27 years have already passed. First of all, I pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for national freedom, justice and democratization. I pray for the repose of their souls.
I offer my heartfelt sympathy and consolation to those victims who still suffer from the aftereffects of torture, imprisonment and injuries and to all the bereaved families who had to withstand heartbreaking and poignant years after losing their loved ones.
I also pay my wholehearted respect and gratitude to the citizens of Gwangju and Jeollanam-do, who have led the way to fulfill the calling of the time at every historic turn with mature civic awareness.
Fellow Koreans,
The May 18 Democratization Movement is a significant event in our history. Most of all, it has reaffirmed the fact that justice surely prevails. The fire of hope for democratization kindled in Gwangju in 1980 became a lasting torchlight that fueled the June Democratic Struggle in 1987, and eventually toppled the military-influenced authoritarian regime. Gwangju was ruthlessly trampled on by the military and the news media, being branded as a rebellious city in 1980. The city, however, has been resurrected as a sanctuary of democracy.
The citizens of Gwangju showed astounding courage and self-restraint even when their lives were at stake 27 years ago in the face of an extreme situation. Their democratic citizenship is well illustrated by the fact that they joined forces in caring for the wounded and shared rice balls with each other while maintaining impeccable democratic order with their own hands. In addition, they never stopped their efforts to engage in talks until the last minute. They will remain as an exemplary role model of democratic citizens unprecedented in the history of civil struggles in the world indeed.
There will be no such tragedy repeated in the future. No people in power will be allowed to stamp on freedom and the human rights of the people again in the land.
The mainstream of history will be directed toward the future where everyone will enjoy equitable and peaceful lives. Nobody will be able to stem or reverse this incessant flow of progress.
That is because the spirit of the Student Revolution of April 19, 1960, the October 16 Democratic Struggle in Busan and Masan in 1979, the May 18 Democratic Movement in 1980 and the June Democratic Struggle in 1987 still reverberates in our hearts.
Fellow citizens,
It does not seem that everything has been completely solved.
Some people have recently expressed cynical and slanderous views about our history of democratization. They argue that the groups that promoted democratization are incompetent or have failed. Worse yet, it is embarrassing to witness that even those who fancy themselves as part of those democratic groups jump on the same bandwagon to repeat the chorus of criticism.
I want to ask them questions. The democratic groups in this country have been more incompetent than who? They have failed more than who at what time? Do they really want to say that the military dictatorship was more competent and more of a success?
The democratic groups are writing a new chapter in history. They have achieved historical progress that is distinctly distinguishable from the time before 1987 in every aspect, including politics, economy, society, culture and diplomacy as well as national security.
The nation drove out dictatorships and is opening the door to the era of democracy wide. Though Korea went through a 10-year transitional period when it was difficult to define what kind of government it had, the country finally achieved an immaculate transition of power in 1997, rooting out the culture of privilege, foul play and authoritarianism·all established under past dictatorships. We have cast off the chains of business-government collusion and power-bred corruption. So-called power organizations are back to where they belong; government-media relations are being straightened out; there should be no more collusion. The noble cause of history is being upheld through setting historical records straight. The nation is heading toward a transparent and fair society. Our citizens are basking in freedom and human rights and nurturing the flower of their creative spirit. We have indeed opened the door to the era of sovereignty of the people.
Are there any other feats greater than this? Who could have accomplished it better than the democratic movement?
I have no intention of going out of my way to demean the economic achievements of the military-influenced administrations, but they were accomplished at the expense of those who were unduly denied opportunities. There is no way to prove the argument that economic progress could not have come without dictatorship, logic that greatly denigrates the potential of the Korean people.
In fact, since the democratization movement in 1987, the Korean economy began to undergo a fundamental shift. The foreign exchange crisis in 1997 that triggered the IMF bailout resulted from a failure to swiftly shed the vestiges of a cookie-cutter policy and collusion-driven economy under the development-oriented authoritarian administrations. The Government of the People overcame the crisis with swift, bold reform and restructuring efforts. Since then, Korea has made a rapid transition to a knowledge-based economy powered by human capital and led by the spirit of innovation, liberalizing the market and moving a step ahead in the stream of the world economy. Isn’t our economic potential growing much faster than in 1987? Isn’t our nation moving up the ladder of advanced economies so much faster? The nation has made progress that is unparalleled in its history everywhere you look, whether you are talking about the size of economy, science and technology, industrial competitiveness, the environment or culture.
Korea is standing on the verge of an era when the country’s exports will reach US$400 billion and its citizens will earn a per-capita income of US$20,000. No one questions whether the nation will head into an era of a per-capita income of US$30,000 in the not-too-distant future.
It is only if we have a society where freedom and creative ideas blossom and transparency and fairness prevail, that the nation will be endowed with markets overflowing with eager spirits and an economy that innovates itself. Under no circumstance would this be achieved without a democratic government.
The Kim Dae-jung Administration introduced the National Minimum Living Standard Initiative, a social insurance program for the low-income bracket, and led the way in ensuring that every citizen is covered by the universal pension scheme. And, now, welfare investment is being developed into a social investment strategy through which to raise national competitiveness by investing in human capital and create a balanced society that provides opportunities for all. This very strategy is no other than Vision 2030·Korea: A Hopeful Nation in Harmony.
That is also what a democratic government does.
Step by step, the country is moving toward an age when principles of peace will reign. Inter-Korean relations have thrown off the long shackles of the Cold War and are definitely taking a step in the direction of reconciliation and cooperation. The site of Gaeseong Industrial Complex, formerly a northern military strategic point, has been reborn as the center of inter-Korean economic cooperation. Trans-Korea railroads that had remained severed for more than a half century had an emotional reopening yesterday, with the eyes of all our citizens riveted on the historical milestone. As long as progress in inter-Korean relations keeps up this way, it will contribute to firmer peace and stability and present new opportunities for the Korean economy.
Meanwhile, the Korea-U.S. relationship is changing from one of lop-sided dependence into cooperative ties based on mutual respect. Self-reliant national defense preparedness is progressing step by step. Amidst the change, the Korea-U.S. alliance is ever solid. The nation produced a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and a UN Secretary-General. In this way, the prestige of the country is a lot different now than it was before.
All these things could not have happened if we did not have a democratic government. The achievements were made by the nation’s democratic forces. The democratic forces are forging a new kind of future for the Republic. We have to refrain from discounting ourselves. We have to refrain from disparaging historic values the nation has created. I do not mean to divide the nation into democratic and anti-democratic camps now and have them criticize and fight each other. What I mean is that the historic values and historic forces should be given due credit rather than being denigrated.
Once again, I offer profound gratitude and tribute to the citizens who have been devoted to the development of democracy.
Fellow Koreans,
We still have something that has to be taken care of, however. It is heartbreaking for me that I am obliged to mention this again, but regionalism is still alive and well in our politics. We cannot hide this.
Five years ago, the citizens of this city of Gwangju demonstrated a truly courageous determination. You chose me who comes from Yeongnam region as the President. In order to repay your courageous decision, I have attended to my duties with body and soul. People are no longer able to criticize the government for discrimination based on regionalism in matters concerning government administration and civil service appointments. If they do, their allegations will prove to be not very persuasive.
The people in Yeongnam have responded correspondingly. In the last presidential election and in elections that followed, some 30 percent of them did not support the party that had traditionally had a monopoly of votes in their region. That is a significant change that can raise the hopes of the nation, isn’t it? If we had had a more rational election system, the Yeongnam region could have produced a rival political party that opposed the party with a monopoly of votes. That, in turn, could have brought about politics based on bona fide competition. Regrettably, the country has failed to change the problematic system, and the present system now shows signs of regression.
Fellow citizens,
Regionalism does not benefit anyone regardless of where one lives. It may benefit only some politicians.
Without overcoming regionalism, it will be difficult for the country to see quality politics that competes on the basis of the policies and rationality of the candidates. The country will not be able to see politics that promotes a national consensus through dialogue and compromise. We will not see politics that serves the people instead of the interests of politicians. It will be difficult to expect the National Assembly members to refrain from repeating exchanges of profanities and physical fighting as well as deliberate and frequent delay and negligence of legislative activities. It will be difficult to expect the politicians to refrain from accepting money from candidates for party nomination and from other irregularities and corruption.
The local elections held last year saw 118 cases of irregularity involving illicit money exchanged for party nomination. If unchecked, the politics of corruption may rear its ugly head again.
The main reason that you gave me the important job of the President was probably because I fought regionalism consistently. But I have not fulfilled all my responsibilities yet. I will continue to do my best to carry them out until the end of my term. The only thing is that my resources are being exhausted; and I am deeply regretful for that.
It seems as though the burden is shifting to the citizens again. This is the time that each citizen should give serious thought to this matter.
Fellow Koreans,
Despite various problems and difficulties, the wheels of history will proceed. That is because there are people who see the development of human events from a far-sighted perspective and with noble values and who sacrifice themselves for the righteous and just evolution of human history.
Let us all reflect on the sublime spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement deep in our hearts once more. Let us put our mind and strength together, make our maturing democracy blossom to the fullest, and forge ahead toward a bright future of an advanced Korea.
The spirit of May 18 residing here will lead us in our march.
Thank you.
웹사이트: http://www.president.go.kr
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2008년 8월 6일 17:22
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