[Unofficial Translation]

My fellow Koreans, persons of national merit involved in the May 18 Democratization Movement, and bereaved families,

This May, the retusa fringe trees are again in full bloom, covering the streets of Gwangju with their petals.

These snow-white flowers are reminiscent of the rice balls that Gwangju citizens and students shared on Geumnam-ro Street and at the former Jeollanam-do Provincial Government Building that May 44 years ago.

When all the roads were blocked and the city residents began to run out of food, they all joined forces, hauling their rice and pots and making rice balls in alleyways.

Gwangju stood united as one in protest to defend liberal democracy and human rights.

The fervent solidarity of Gwangju in May 1980 served as the cornerstone for today’s free and prosperous Republic of Korea.

The Republic of Korea we have today rests on the blood and tears shed by Gwangju.

I pay tribute to the noble sacrifice of the democratic heroes. With my whole heart, I pray for the repose of their souls.

My thoughts and gratitude also go to those bestowed the order of national merit for their role in the May 18 Democratization Movement and the bereaved families, who have harbored the pain of that day in their hearts and silently carried on the Spirit of May.

Fellow Koreans,

With the Spirit of May having taken root deeply, the Republic of Korea has brought a liberal democracy into full bloom.

The political freedom and human rights each and every citizen enjoys are now comparable to those of any country in the world.

However, we are now facing yet another challenge of the times.

Economic inequality is driving class conflict, and social polarization is widening day by day as the ladder of opportunity is broken. This is causing a crisis for liberal democracy.

Political freedom has expanded, but a large number of people are unable to enjoy economic freedom.

Human rights are guaranteed politically, but many people struggle to even find time to relax within their daily lives.

By achieving fast economic growth, we need to restore the ladder of social mobility and further raise the level of freedom and welfare enjoyed by our people.

By fairly distributing the fruits of growth and more intensively protecting the socially disadvantaged, we have to usher in an era centered on the working and middle classes, an era where everyone is happy.

We must further strengthen the foundations upon which our young people can take on challenges and access opportunities, so they can dream of a better tomorrow.

Bringing the people’s minds together in this manner, we have to move toward a hopeful future where all of our people are happy and prosperous.

I believe that this is the right way to uphold the Spirit of May in this era and truly repay Gwangju’s sacrifices and tears.

We will safeguard more firmly the great legacy of liberal democracy left behind by those who sacrificed themselves for the cause.

While looking after the people’s lives more meticulously, we will move forward together toward a greater Republic of Korea. The government and I will do all we can to unleash a future in which the Spirit of May shines brightly.

Fellow Koreans,

The Spirit of Gwangju in May 1980 still lives on within us.

Let us once more join forces, pick up the great cause of the souls who fought for democracy that May and build a free and prosperous Republic of Korea together.

Thank you.