President Lee Myung-bak delivered the following address at the ceremony commemorating the 93rd March First Independence Movement Day today.

Fellow Koreans, seven million compatriots overseas and our brethren in the North,

I join all of you in celebrating the 93rd March First Independence Movement Day.

I bow my head low in reverence to our patriotic forefathers who laid down their lives for the liberation of our country. My gratitude also goes to the decorated patriots who fought for the nation’s independence and my warmest sympathy to the families of fallen heroes.

Fellow citizens,

Exactly 93 years ago today, we Koreans achieved a new milestone in our five thousand years of history.

In defiance of the harshest military colonial rule by the Japanese imperialists, all Koreans were united as one to cry out for Korea’s independence, peace in the East and the coexistence of all peoples.

The March First Independence Movement was a giant stride by the Korean nation toward freedom and the beginning of the proud history of the Republic of Korea.

Through the March First Independence Movement, we were reborn as new persons, new people and a new country.

With the daring hope for freedom and peace and under the ideal of the equality of all nations, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was established.

Upholding its legitimacy, we founded the Republic of Korea in 1948 on the basis of the ideology of liberal democracy; we fought against the Communists, shedding our blood. Democracy and economic prosperity have blossomed on the strength of freedom. Liberal democracy is the solid identity of the Republic of Korea to this day.

Fellow Koreans,

The March First Independence Movement served as a blazing torch during the bleakest period when our people were rendered the most powerless.

Our modern history has been punctuated by one period of severe suffering after another—fighting against poverty and dictatorship after the division of the country and the Korean War in the wake of the Japanese colonial rule.

Nevertheless, the indomitable spirit of courage of the March First Independence Movement has always lived on in our hearts.

We have become the sole country to achieve both democratization and economic development in just a single generation. We amazed the world by making the impossible possible.

Today, the Republic of Korea is growing into a mature global Korea that works on the international stage beyond the Korean Peninsula and Asia.

During the imperial age in the past, countries expanded their territories with guns and swords. The Republic of Korea, however, has explored the largest economic territory in the world by means of free trade agreements. Last year, it became the ninth country to reach US$1 trillion in trade.

The Republic of Korea Armed Forces are now working in 15 countries around the globe in peacekeeping, reconstruction and relief operations.

Our Armed Forces have won the hearts and minds of local residents more than any other country’s military forces. They are thus receiving high appraisal internationally.

In 2010, we successfully hosted the G20 Seoul Summit, a premier economic forum in the world.

This month, we are to host the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, which will bring together leaders from some 50 countries around the world. The Summit is the highest-level conference convened to discuss how to protect world peace and security.

In addition, Korea is slated to hold Expo 2012 Yeosu in May, with the participation of 106 countries and 10 international organizations.  

The Republic of Korea has now firmly established itself among major leading countries that discuss global economy and security.

Moreover, the Korean Wave, including Korean films and dramas, is spreading rapidly around the globe, receiving great responses. Young people everywhere are enthusiastic about K-pop.

In many parts of the world, even in remote areas in South America and in Africa, people are showing great interest in learning Korean language and Korean culture.

The cherishing of culture by the Korean people has time-honored historical roots.

Engraved on the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok the Great manufactured around the 8th century during the Silla era is the following: In those days, people kept away from jewels such as gold and jade. Instead, they placed high value on culture.

Even in the harsh days of the imperialist rule, Koreans had a dream to “…contribute our creative vitality to the development of world culture…” The visions contained in the Declaration of the Korean Independence have now become a reality.

As of now, the Republic of Korea is not just an economic powerhouse; it is emerging as a nation of refined culture.

Young Koreans are opening a new chapter of a greater Republic of Korea with their indomitable spirit and talent.

The young students that I met a few days ago at the graduation ceremony of an institute aimed at nurturing young CEOs were blazing a new trail with their burning passion by taking on new challenges, without fearing failure. I could see the future of Korea in them.

In addition, many young Koreans are also distinguishing themselves crisscrossing the world.

They are achieving impressive results in many international sports competitions, including the Olympic Games. In the World Skills Competition, the Korean squad won the championship 17 times.

Young students aspiring to become scientists are unrivalled in math, physics, chemistry and biology in International Science Olympiads.

Many young people have ventured into many different parts of the world, playing a significant role in mainstream society. There are also many young Koreans sweating behind the scenes to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Young Koreans that I met in Africa and South America were fully committed to volunteer activities. They are winning the hearts of local people.

The young people of the G20 generation are those who take on challenges in the international arena and work there.

If we turn our eyes toward the world instead of just looking inward, we would be able to find lots of work to do. A wide road stretches out in front of us.

My fellow citizens,

During the March First Independence Movement, there were no divisions among us. Transcending barriers of generation, status, region and religion, all Korean people were united as one nation. 

On the strength of such a spirit of unity, a new national spirit was created and a new history dawned.

Looking back on the past, we prospered when united, but suffered when divided.  

When world powers engaged in exchanges with other nations for their advancement at the end of 19th century, we were caught in the internal fighting and lost our sovereignty.

Nowadays, we are still not free from the divisions and confrontations between ideologies, regions, generations and the haves and have-nots.

Like the saying “After a storm comes a calm,” however, if we can go beyond wasteful confrontation and conflict to unite as one through concession, consideration, mutual understanding and harmony, we would be able to build a greater Republic of Korea.

This is the very reason we have gathered here today with the aim of bringing the spirit of the March First Independence Movement back to life.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Today the March First Independence Movement stands out in relief due to its great spirit of tolerance.

Suffering in the grip of the logic of the strong preying upon the weak and the survival of the fittest, the Korean people made an appeal to “…open a new phase of friendship based upon genuine understanding and sympathy …” instead of bearing grudges and taking revenge.

With regard to the resistance against imperialism, our ancestors squarely proclaimed, “Our task today is to build up our own strength, not to destroy others.”

In addition to the proclamation, they stood with peaceful, well-organized order and dignity against the merciless suppression with guns and swords.

Such noble acts of the weakest helped awaken the conscience of the peoples of the world. 

At that time, a foreign missionary who was working in Korea paid tribute to the Korean people praising, “This is a great day for Korea.”

The March First spirit epitomizes the willingness to live and let others live as well, and not to pay back evil with evil. It is my conviction that, even today, the spirit serves as a light shining on the path of the peoples in Northeast Asia and the world.

When Japan was inflicted with major earthquakes in Fukushima, the Korean people rallied behind the Japanese people who were undergoing hardship. We have helped the disaster victims with no reservation.

As neighbors, the peoples of Korea and Japan fully understand that we both share diverse common interests and that we are partners who are called upon to forge the future together.

Particularly, young people of the two countries are marching together toward a bright future, dismantling the barriers of history and becoming friends regardless of national borders.

However, first and foremost, in order for the two nations to become true partners and work closely together, there has to be genuine courage and wisdom that do not neglect the truth of history.

Especially, the issue of comfort women is an important humanitarian task that should be resolved more urgently than any other issues.

These women have harbored excruciating emotional pain all their lives spanning more than 80 years.

Should these women pass away without seeing the settlement of the issue, the problem will not go away. On the contrary, Japan will be forever losing the opportunity to resolve it.

That is the reason why I am urging the Japanese Government to take a positive stance in solving the problem.

The 21st century is the age of Asia. Peace in Northeast Asia is the critical key to the progress in the world as well as of the region.

The history of confrontation and conflict should not be repeated in the Northeast Asian region.

I earnestly hope, as the March First Movement so clearly espoused, that “peace would be brought about in Asia as a crucial element of world peace.” 

Fellow citizens, independence fighters, and distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

Looking back on our history, the Korean people suffered a constant series of trials and tribulations.

However, as the lessons of the March First Movement demonstrate, we when united were eventually able to overcome any national hardship and crush any foreign invasions.

This year is a very critical time internally and externally. The global economy is badly distressed because of the fiscal crisis in the euro-zone. Two major national elections are slated for this year as well.

The Government and I will conduct ourselves to the best of our abilities. As I promised to the nation, the Government will strive to preserve jobs and stabilize consumer prices so that low-income people may lead comfortable lives.

Under all circumstances, the Government promises to continue to apply a firm principle in carrying out policies fundamentally affecting the survival and future of the Republic.

Corruption and irregularities will be sternly cracked down on. I will do all I can to root out school violence. The Government will manage the national elections fairly and strictly.

As long as the spirit of the March First Movement flows and works through us and as far as all citizens unite as one, the Republic of Korea will be a land of hope.

Let us all build a compassionate nation where every one cares for one another.

Thank you very much.