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SPEECHES & REMARKS
BRIEFINGS
Allow me to present my compliments to you first off. I should have called on you in person one by one; I am grateful that you have come all the way to Cheong Wa Dae.
When we last met, it was in the early days of my Administration and a time to re-establish the foundation of the nation at home and abroad. The situation on the Korean Peninsula was also precarious as if walking on thin ice. There was an enormous sense of urgency that the soon-to-be held PyeongChang Winter Olympics must be made into a success without fail so that it could serve as an opportunity for peace and reconciliation. When needed the most, our religious community helped bring the minds of the people together and also provided unsparing support and advice on a journey toward peace. I am deeply grateful to all of you religious leaders.
Thanks to your concern and strengths mustered, great strides have been made toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. I anticipate that, again during the second North Korea-U.S. summit to be held next week, we could see huge progress in denuclearization and the normalization of ties between North Korea and the United States. I look forward to the expediting of a concrete and tangible implementation of the joint statement announced in Singapore.
I was told that last week at Geumgangsan Mountain, you also attended this year’s first civilian exchange between South and North Korea. It would be incredible if the peoples of the two Koreas could watch the sunrise from Geumgangsan’s rocky shores together. I believe that you religious leaders held this same wish when you recently visited North Korea. I hope you will continue to work together to ensure that peace on the Korean Peninsula leads to shared prosperity.
As this year marks the centennials of the March First Independence Movement and the establishment of the Republic of Korea Provisional Government, the role and significance of religion has become all the more special. One hundred years ago, all 33 representatives of the nation who spearheaded the Movement were all religious leaders. Students who were independently preparing their own protests became greatly emboldened when they heard about the preparations for the ceremony for the Declaration of Independence, which helped draw in even more people.
Religions came together as one voice in Seoul, Pyeongyang, Jinnampo, Anju, Uiju, Seoncheon and Wonsan, cities where the protests with people shouting manse for Korea’s independence first began on March 1. This prompted the people – regardless of gender, age, social standing or wealth – to join forces by printing out the Declaration of Independence and making the national flag Taegeukgi.
Buddhist temples nationwide, including Beomeosa, collected funds for the independence movement. Won-Buddhism also engaged in fund-raising, and as a result, its monks were incarcerated in prisons. Among the nearly 3 million followers of Chondogyo nationwide, many sold rice paddies, fields or oxen to raise funds.
The dedication of the religious community resulted in a historic period of solidarity and cooperation almost unprecedented around the world. It is a feat that we all have a right to be proud of. I was told that the World Peace Prayer Gathering for the Centennial Commemoration of the March 1st Movement is underway this week with religious followers from around the world taking part. I was also told that, at noon on the March First Independence Movement Day, bells at churches and temples nationwide will chime in unison. I believe that this will prove a great way to commemorate the Declaration of Independence on March 1. Active participation by those in the religious community will help the entire nation honor the Centennial in an even more meaningful way.
The country our forefathers envisioned is a democratic republic in name and substance. It is a nation in which each and every citizen can prosper fairly and live peacefully together. I long to achieve this dream together with the people. I ask you religious leaders here to share your wisdom and open a path that can unite the people. Thank you.
When we last met, it was in the early days of my Administration and a time to re-establish the foundation of the nation at home and abroad. The situation on the Korean Peninsula was also precarious as if walking on thin ice. There was an enormous sense of urgency that the soon-to-be held PyeongChang Winter Olympics must be made into a success without fail so that it could serve as an opportunity for peace and reconciliation. When needed the most, our religious community helped bring the minds of the people together and also provided unsparing support and advice on a journey toward peace. I am deeply grateful to all of you religious leaders.
Thanks to your concern and strengths mustered, great strides have been made toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. I anticipate that, again during the second North Korea-U.S. summit to be held next week, we could see huge progress in denuclearization and the normalization of ties between North Korea and the United States. I look forward to the expediting of a concrete and tangible implementation of the joint statement announced in Singapore.
I was told that last week at Geumgangsan Mountain, you also attended this year’s first civilian exchange between South and North Korea. It would be incredible if the peoples of the two Koreas could watch the sunrise from Geumgangsan’s rocky shores together. I believe that you religious leaders held this same wish when you recently visited North Korea. I hope you will continue to work together to ensure that peace on the Korean Peninsula leads to shared prosperity.
As this year marks the centennials of the March First Independence Movement and the establishment of the Republic of Korea Provisional Government, the role and significance of religion has become all the more special. One hundred years ago, all 33 representatives of the nation who spearheaded the Movement were all religious leaders. Students who were independently preparing their own protests became greatly emboldened when they heard about the preparations for the ceremony for the Declaration of Independence, which helped draw in even more people.
Religions came together as one voice in Seoul, Pyeongyang, Jinnampo, Anju, Uiju, Seoncheon and Wonsan, cities where the protests with people shouting manse for Korea’s independence first began on March 1. This prompted the people – regardless of gender, age, social standing or wealth – to join forces by printing out the Declaration of Independence and making the national flag Taegeukgi.
Buddhist temples nationwide, including Beomeosa, collected funds for the independence movement. Won-Buddhism also engaged in fund-raising, and as a result, its monks were incarcerated in prisons. Among the nearly 3 million followers of Chondogyo nationwide, many sold rice paddies, fields or oxen to raise funds.
The dedication of the religious community resulted in a historic period of solidarity and cooperation almost unprecedented around the world. It is a feat that we all have a right to be proud of. I was told that the World Peace Prayer Gathering for the Centennial Commemoration of the March 1st Movement is underway this week with religious followers from around the world taking part. I was also told that, at noon on the March First Independence Movement Day, bells at churches and temples nationwide will chime in unison. I believe that this will prove a great way to commemorate the Declaration of Independence on March 1. Active participation by those in the religious community will help the entire nation honor the Centennial in an even more meaningful way.
The country our forefathers envisioned is a democratic republic in name and substance. It is a nation in which each and every citizen can prosper fairly and live peacefully together. I long to achieve this dream together with the people. I ask you religious leaders here to share your wisdom and open a path that can unite the people. Thank you.
