(Unofficial translation)

Fellow Koreans, citizens of Changwon, Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do Province, 

The anniversary of the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests was designated a national commemorative day last September, and the first government-organized ceremony for the anniversary is being held today after 40 years. With the anniversary now honored as a symbol of democracy, together with the April 19 Revolution, the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the June 10 Democratic Struggle, the people and the citizens of this region are now able to take even greater pride in themselves.

It is all the more meaningful to hold this integrated ceremony here on the campus of Kyungnam University, the fountainhead of the Masan democratic protests, uniting the hearts and minds of Changwon, Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do residents.

Last September, 40 years after his death, Yoo Chi-jun was officially recognized as a victim killed during the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests. Over a period that lasted far too long, the Government failed to attend to the suffering of victims. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family. As President, I express profound sympathy and apologize to all the victims whose human rights were trampled by the harsh violence of the Yusin dictatorial regime.

Even during the time when the anniversary of the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests was not commemorated by the Government, the citizens of Busan and Changwon have consistently honored the date. I myself participated in the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests Memorial Association and once delivered a commemorative speech at an anniversary ceremony held here on the campus of Kyungnam University. I am deeply grateful to all those who have struggled to impart the historic significance of the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests and have this anniversary designated a national commemorative day.

Fellow Koreans, 

Our democracy has progressed unceasingly and is growing further still.

When our democracy has faced crises, our people have revived it through their actions. The tremendous force that began as political democracy has been diffused into a democracy woven into our workplaces, homes and daily lives.

The Busan-Masan Democratic Protests were a great struggle that brought on the dawn of democracy by bringing down the Yusin regime, our nation’s longest and severest dictatorship that seemed to have no end in sight.

Even when darkness again grew heavier with the emergence of the military government in 1980, the citizens of Gwangju took up the fierce struggle then at the cost of an immense sacrifice. Finally, the people won an everlasting victory for democracy when they erupted in the 1987 June Struggle.

Busan and Masan are sanctuaries for democracy in the Republic of Korea. The March 15 righteous uprising in Masan touched off the beginning of the April 19 Revolution, and demonstrations in Busan rekindled the flagging flame of the June Struggle, helping to achieve the ultimate triumph.

Now, a son of Busan, Park Jong-chul, and a son of Gwangju, Lee Han-yeol, shine together in the heavens above democracy, and we are writing new chapters in the history of democracy in the name of the people.

Many of our people were able to find their voices through democracy. In the process of voicing our respective opinions, democracy has become more accommodating. We have now come to realize that the voices of others are just as important as our own. 

Democracy is not something that can be completed but something that’s being expanded while ceaselessly put into practice. We are commemorating the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests today in the hope that the efforts made so far for the sake of democracy can be extended further to obtain a more advanced form.  

Today I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to the people, who have always stepped in to save democracy. Now, I hope to see democracy in our country grow even more mature to the point of encouraging concession, sharing, mutual gain and unity among our people. 

Fellow Koreans, citizens of Changwon, Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do, 

The Government will redouble its efforts to ascertain the truth about the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests, restore the victims’ honor and award them compensation. 

We will ensure that those who led the democratic protests and those who suffered – but who are now only recorded as numbers – regain their names and honor. In addition, we will also thoroughly investigate who is responsible for the violence perpetrated by the state. These actions are not now to reproach belatedly but to firmly uphold the justice of history. 

The Government will provide support to ensure that the Bu-Ma Democratic Uprising Memorial Foundation founded last year takes firm root and helps the democratic spirit of the Busan-Masan protests blossom. By building an archive in Busan’s Democracy Park and a hall for democracy in Changwon, we will help an increasing number of people learn about and remember the history of democratic protests in the course of their daily lives. 

In last year’s proposal to revise the Constitution, I intended to incorporate into the Preamble the legacy of democratic ideals expressed through the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests, the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and June 10 Democratic Struggle, in addition to those of the April 19 Revolution. Although the constitutional revision was thwarted, we will continue to strive to uphold the intent. 

Moreover, the Government will push for prompt passage of currently pending National Assembly bills related to the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests and legislative amendments designed to extend fact-finding missions and provide the participants respectful treatment. 

In addition to their strong aspirations for political democracy, the citizens of Changwon, Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do have been at the forefront of the process to change harsh labor controls under dictatorial governments, an unequal growth policy based on low wages for laborers and a privileged economic structure marked by lopsided support for large businesses.   

Over the past 40 years, Changwon has led and driven our country’s economic development amid all kinds of hardships, with its national industrial complex playing a central role. Since declaring itself as an environmental capital in 2006, Changwon is now evolving into a forward-looking city where industry and the environment coexist. In November 2018, Changwon became the first city in the country to declare itself a special city dedicated to the hydrogen industry and started operating hydrogen-powered buses. 

I have high expectations for the strengthening of the social economy now being pushed by Changwon, a sacred place for democracy. The Government will provide active support to build an innovative social economy town, which will take into account not only profits but also social value, thereby increasing the number of jobs for local residents. It will also work in concert with Changwon to create exemplary cases that can solidify a spirit of community where everyone lives harmoniously together. 
 
Busan is preparing to take a leap forward as the maritime capital of Northeast Asia. Busan was selected a special regulation-free zone for blockchain technologies in July. The city is expected to lead the efforts to foster blockchain-based logistics, tourism and financial industries as well as the growth of the blockchain industry rooted in day-to-day life.  

This month, Gyeongsangnam-do’s special regulation-free zone for unmanned ships has been selected as a candidate for additional special regulation-free zone designations. This will serve as an opportunity to utilize, revive and further develop the province’s abundant shipbuilding industry infrastructure.

The Government will do everything in its power to prepare for the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit and the inaugural Mekong-Korea Summit, which are only 40 days away. It will also form a pan-government task force exclusively responsible for Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo as soon as possible and vigorously help Changwon, Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do reach out into the world.     

I ask citizens to actively take part in these endeavors with pride in the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests.

Fellow Koreans, 

As long as we have our great history of democratic struggles ranging from the April 19 Revolution and the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests to the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, the June 10 Democratic Struggle and the candlelight revolution of 2016, no power can reign over the people. 

Now, the people demand more democracy in an advanced form. All law enforcement agencies must bear in mind this common knowledge in regard to democracy, namely that they exist not for the sake of their organizations themselves but for the people. 

I will move forward together with the people toward a genuine democratic republic as envisioned by our forefathers who led the March First Independence Movement and the Provisional Republic of Korea Government one hundred years ago, toward a democracy in which ordinary people truly become the rightful owners of the nation and toward a democracy where national achievements bring about improvements in the lives of the people.  

I believe that the spirit of the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests that has finally been brought back as our shared history and come to inspire us will prove a source of resolute strength and courage for all.  

Thank you.