President Moon Jae-in delivers his speech at a ceremony to mark the 58th anniversary of the 1960 pro-democracy movement, at the Daegu Concert House on Feb. 28.

By Sohn JiAe

Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in stressed that the long-past beginning of the candlelight revolution, which proved that the people could defeat those in power, was the Feb. 28 democracy movement in Daegu. 

On Feb. 28, attending a ceremony to commemorate the 58th anniversary of the pro-democracy protests that broke out among students in Daegu in 1960, President Moon said, “Our lofty journey toward democracy began with the Feb. 28 democracy movement, and the movement created a larger flow, the democratic uprising in June 1987. It then led to an even larger movement, as today, the people take to the streets to hold aloft their candlelight. 

“The brave outcry of the students in Daegu shattered the silence and awoke democracy,” said President Moon. “Today, we look back together on how great the flame that the students ignited was at the beginning of our democracy.” 

President Moon emphasized that the people should march together toward democracy and hoped that the movement would lead to a broader, deeper and more solid democracy.” 

The 1960 democracy movement was supported by more than 1,700 students across Daegu, in protest against the dictatorship and an rigged election. The movement led to the March 15 protest against an illegal election and then to the April Revolution against dictatorship. 

President Moon Jae-in pays his respects at a memorial in honor of the 1960 pro-democracy movement in Daegu, on Feb. 28.

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