Fellow Koreans, our brethren in the North, Korean compatriots living overseas, patriots who dedicated themselves to the nation’s independence and distinguished guests from home and abroad,

Today, we are gathered here in Cheonan, the Home of Loyal Allegiance, to commemorate the 91st March First Independence Movement Day. It is particularly meaningful to be here because the nearby A-unae marketplace and Mt. Maebong are historic sites where the young Yu Gwan-sun, one of Korea’s patriotic martyrs, held aloft the torch for Korea’s independence.

In the face of the guns and swords of the Japanese imperialists, our ancestors stood tall and passionately cried out for Korea’s independence, waving the national flag, the Taegeukgi. When daughters were gunned down, fathers took their place. When fathers were struck down, mothers followed. The ensuing stream of unwavering love of country flowed like a mighty river.

Just as many small streams converge into a single entity at A-unae here, there were no differences between us during the March First Independence Movement. Young students, elderly men and women and everyone in the nation came together in perfect harmony to regain our nation, regardless of age, social status or origin. Religious faith did not matter as believers in Cheondogyo, Christians and Buddhists all united with one mind to declare the independence of Korea.

As I stand here today, I can still hear our ancestor’s call for independence that shook the nation that day. From your solemn faces, I can glimpse how brave and resolute our ancestors must have been on that day.

With all due respect and solemnity, we pay deep, heartfelt tribute to all our fallen patriotic forefathers who gave their lives for the country’s liberation. Our deepest gratitude also goes to all the other patriots who fought for the nation’s independence and their descendants for their noble sacrifices and devotion.

My great fellow Koreans,

Exactly 100 years ago this year, our nation lost its sovereignty and our patriotic martyr, the Honorable Ahn Jung-geun, died for his country. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Liberation Army.

Marking the centennial anniversary of the forced annexation of Korea by imperial Japan, we need to renew our resolve today and prepare for the next 100 years.

A century ago, our leaders were not able to read the enormous changes taking place globally. Domestically, they were sharply divided into different factions. Thus, they failed to bring the nation together. The result was the loss of our independence.

Our land turned into a fierce battleground where the international powers competed, and our people lost their sovereignty. Our ancestors, however, never got discouraged nor fell into despair. Weathering the thorny paths of history, they tenaciously resisted.

Not giving in to the harsh oppression of imperial Japan, Koreans 91 years ago today declared the great cause of self-reliant independence of Joseon and enduring peace in the East and the world as well as happiness for all peoples. A grand vision encompassing Asia and the entire world transcending Korea’s independence was proclaimed to all the countries around the globe.

After liberation, the Republic of Korea was founded on the basis of a democratic republic.

When the nation was divided in the aftermath of the Korean War, the country chose liberal democracy and market economy, taking the path toward freedom and prosperity.

Throughout the history of suffering and glory from liberation to the founding of the nation and the nation’s division, Koreans have successfully achieved the goal of industrialization and democratization in the shortest period of time in the world.

All these accomplishments have been made possible thanks to the blood and sweat of our patriotic ancestors as well as our fathers and mothers. They deserve our wholehearted gratitude and respect. Had it not been for their dedication and sacrifices, we would not have become what we are in today.

We are now standing at another crossroads and must make choices. A huge transformation is taking place in the 21st century. The international order is facing a fundamental change in the wake of the global financial crisis. What we must do is to turn this crisis into an opportunity to enhance our nation’s fortune.

A crisis can serve as an opportunity. It is necessary to make the best use of any good opportunity when it arises. Otherwise, we may face an even bigger crisis. When the going is tough, we must be bold and carve out a better future. Will we remain relegated to the periphery of the international stage, caught up in our small world? Or will we stand tall on the center stage of the world, working with other countries? The answer is clear.

Tomorrow will not be better without a meaningful change today. The Republic of Korea needs to move toward the global center stage staying in step with the world. This is the way for us to inherit the spirit of the March First Independence Movement which was committed to making contributions to the coexistence and coprosperity of all mankind as well as progress of world civilization. Building on that spirit, my Administration will turn the Republic into a mature, advanced nation in the international community.

My fellow Koreans,

In retrospect, the independence movement constituted a great awakening of the Korean people. The movement made it crystal clear that all human beings are entitled to freedom and equality. This became the first step in the quest to establish a free democratic Republic.

In addition, the Korean people were all united in harmony to build a nation where everyone leads a happy and prosperous life. Like each different tributary joins to form a grand river flowing into the ocean, we Koreans joined together to venture into a vast new world. In the process, we practiced the spirit of partnership by coming together for a greater cause, going beyond trivial differences.

This spirit was aimed at discarding exhaustive ideological debates in a bid to improve the everyday lives of the people. On top of this, it is also the spirit of centrist pragmatism, which respects diversity while seeking the most productive way that will benefit as many people as possible.

Confined within an outdated ideological framework, it is impossible to take forward steps. If the people are divided because of conflicts and confrontations, we cannot march forward toward the advancement of the nation.

We have to take better care of those who are less fortunate. Those who received greater benefits from society are required to make matching contributions. Though we are faced with difficulties at the moment, everyone must believe that tomorrow will be better. Only then will we be able to surmount the current adversities.

The Republic has a track record of using the numerous conflicts and confrontations to muster positive energy, thus utilizing them as the driving force for national integration and collective progress.

We are now engaged in heated debates in a bid to come up with a far-sighted master plan for the future of our nation. I am convinced that we will be able to deal with the current situation wisely. As one of our proverbs rightly points out, the land becomes firmer and more resilient after a storm. Likewise, we will become more united and keep moving forward once we pass these difficult times. Our nation’s fortune will soar.

My fellow compatriots,

A hundred years ago, the Korean people came to harbor a vision of making contributions to the promotion of world peace. The nation once fell victim to the imperialist forces that trampled upon the values of freedom and equality of human beings. Notwithstanding, the Republic was uniquely able to make such outstanding progress on its own initiative without following in their footsteps.

The sovereignty of the nation fell into the hands of a neighboring country. The guns and swords of imperial Japan took the lives of many Koreans. Still, the Korean people did not reject the peoples from other countries or bear a grudge against any. Leaders of our nation proclaimed in the Declaration of Korean Independence, “We are not here merely to accuse Japan for her breach of numerous solemn agreements… nor are we here to reprimand Japan for her lack of integrity and faithfulness… Our purpose is to correct and reform today’s unnatural, illogical, and maladjusted conditions… Our aim is to restore conditions to be harmonious with just principles which are natural and logical.”

Our ancestors did not press Japan to take responsibility for its wrongdoings. Instead, they wanted to correct the abnormality of Japan to help it take the right path. Such an attitude by the leaders of Korea illustrates well what generosity and tolerance are all about. That is also a vision that augurs well for the future of humanity.

The Korean people redoubled their efforts and encouraged themselves in their quest for freedom. The ultimate goal was to reconstruct the ruined country. It was a self-driven effort aimed at determining the destiny of the nation, which should serve as an ideal guide for our future. This was an expression of the Korean people’s self-esteem based on moral beliefs.

The spirit of the March First Independence Movement was to improve ourselves with sublime ideals while at the same time, helping promote other people’s freedom and progress. It was the outcome of the farsightedness of our forefathers and a good example of the coexistence of humanity for peace and prosperity.

At the Vancouver Olympic Games, our young athletes opened a new chapter in the history of the Republic. Without fear, they raced on the ice and became the world’s best. They are no longer fettered by the unfortunate past.

Young Koreans are charging ahead fearlessly toward becoming top-notch players on the global scene. They are ambitious and energetic, a major characteristic of young people, which is necessary to compete with world-class players. They are the new Koreans. They represent the hope of the Republic, and they will be the newly-emerging leaders of the world in the coming years.

On the occasion of 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Annexation of Korea by Japan, the Republic has to embrace the world and blaze a new trail leading to the coprosperity of all peoples, like our young athletes who remain unbounded to the past.

Pursuant to the universal value that each and every individual is entitled to freedom and equality, the March First Independence Movement was aimed at restoring the right of coexistence and coprosperity of all peoples. We are now living in one, globalized world. Now, national borders do not have much meaning, and thus, there is no distinction between the administration of domestic affairs and diplomatic engagements. The world is being linked as one. What happens on the opposite side of the globe has direct bearings on us.

Last year’s international financial crisis showed that fact clearly. Today, global partnerships are the mega-trend.

Now is the time for Korea to aim at emerging as a green forest for the world and to become a prestigious country capable of giving life and hope to other peoples. The Republic is already taking the initiative in the international endeavor for green growth. As the chair of the G-20, the country is urging other nations to pay keen attention to the issues affecting all humanity. We have assumed the main role in the effort to bring about a brighter future for the world.

The country intends to act as a bridge linking developing and developed countries with a view to accomplishing balanced global growth. We are trying to help less fortunate countries by sharing our development experience. In cooperation with the international community, we are playing an important role in pursuing common prosperity and world peace.

Korea is the only country that has transformed itself from a receiving nation to a donor nation while the generation who initiated national development is still very much active. We must not forget what we went through in the past, and neither should we seek immediate gains. We have to nurture genuine, warm hearts and prepare a firm foundation for mutual confidence.

The G-20 Summit to be held in Seoul in November promises to be a major milestone for bolstering the nation’s status and fortunes. The occasion will send a signal of hope to the nations of the world. We cannot afford to repeat the mistake of losing a rare, precious opportunity. We have to make sure that our posterity will remember us as ancestors worthy of their pride.

The “era of physical power” that characterized the last 100 years is gone, and the Republic of Korea is leading the way toward a new “era of morality,” which the Korean independence protagonists desired so fervently.

By definition, the era of morality will have to be open to all citizens of the world. The nation should reach out to people who have come to live in the Republic—the new immigrants who came here through marriage, who fled North Korea and who stay here as foreign residents. We have to endeavor to protect their human rights and everyday lives.

We have to embrace them with an open mind; we have to help them live with dignity as neighbors of native-born Koreans. The Republic should continue to thrive on the basis of the unity of all individuals and of the benefits of such unity.
 

Fellow Koreans,

I urge all citizens to join forces in forging an even greater Republic. Two years ago when I was inaugurated, I declared that the occasion must serve as the first year in building a truly advanced nation. In order to open a new kind of era, we need to have grander thoughts and greater awareness. Our dream is to build a more tolerantX_X_?assionate Republic.

In this year marking the 100th anniversary of Japan’s colonial annexation of Korea, we feel the aspirations of the Republic soaring sky-high in Vancouver and here at A-unae.

I want to share our aspirations and dream with our compatriots in the North. It is about time we overcame the division of the land and opened a wide path toward unification. For the past two years, the Republic demonstrated consistent principles and genuine willingness with a view to establishing a new paradigm in inter-Korean relations. The South provided the North with vaccines for the H1N1 flu. Through international organizations, we offered humanitarian aid, including shipments of necessities for infants and children. More than any nation in the world, the Republic has shown deep affection and interest in enhancing the quality of life in the North.

In order to make progress in South-North relations, the North has to change its thinking; it has to stop regarding the South as a mere entity for economic cooperation. To realize reconciliation and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, peace has to be maintained first and foremost. The South and North, the two directly interested parties, should seek to resolve pending issues through dialogue. I urge Pyongyang to engage in discussing our “grand bargain” proposal. It is imperative that Pyongyang show sincerity to the international community through its actions.

Fellow citizens,

Reflecting on the 100 years that have passed, we need to establish long-range plans for our nation’s future. We need to prepare a blue print for the next 100 years. Diverse thoughts should be respected, but we have to achieve overall harmony, transcending small differences. This is the way to inherit and further develop the spirit of the March First Independence Movement that called for unity in the interest of a larger cause. We need to think big and see farther ahead.

Just as our forefathers did 91 years ago, we can eventually attain whatever we want if we come together and become one. Let us try to have a bigger heart and embark on creating an even bigger Republic of Korea. Let us build up the nation that our ancestors longed for so eagerly—a leading advanced nation at the forefront of the pursuit of world peace and common prosperity.

Thank you very much.