President Lee Calls for Unity and Accountability on Memorial Day

President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the importance of honoring those who protected the community while also holding accountable those who betrayed it for personal gain. Speaking at the 71st Memorial Day ceremony held at the National Cemetery in Seoul, he stated, "When we elevate dedication and punish betrayal, a just unity for the continuity and development of the national community becomes possible."

He particularly highlighted the recently enacted "Pro-Japanese Property Restitution Act," which aims to investigate and recover assets unjustly accumulated by pro-Japanese collaborators, ensuring accountability and preventing future occurrences.

President Lee promised, "Special sacrifices for all must be met with appropriate special rewards. I will make promises that can be kept, and once made, I will ensure they are fulfilled, repaying the noble sacrifices made for everyone."

He continued, "Today is a day to remember and honor the noble spirit of all who sacrificed their lives for the country, and we must express our heartfelt condolences to fulfill our responsibilities. We stand today on the 'all tomorrows' they sacrificed for."

He noted that honoring the spirits of the fallen is a social duty for the living, stating, "Recognizing dedication is a driving force for maintaining and advancing the national community."

President Lee warned, "If dedication for all is ignored, who will step forward for the community in the face of future crises? Recognition and rewards must be demonstrated through action, not words."

He mentioned that the government is steadily fulfilling promises made on last year's Memorial Day, including a bill to expand compensation for the families of independence activists, which is set to pass in the National Assembly this year and take effect next year. He also noted that the government is on track to provide living support for spouses of veterans.

The president pledged to expand veteran hospitals, stating, "We are progressing without delay on our promise to sequentially expand contracted medical institutions to establish a comprehensive veteran healthcare system. We are also preparing to designate quasi-veteran hospitals in Gangwon and Jeju, where there are currently none."

He specifically acknowledged military personnel, firefighters, police, and coast guard members, asserting, "We must give due recognition to the uniformed citizens who protect our present. The government will firmly support them so they can focus on their essential duties for the nation and its people."

President Lee also addressed the 12·3 martial law incident, stating, "Today, South Korea is once again facing waves of crisis. Just as we normalized a nation brought low by insurrection, we are now confronted with the high tide of war in the Middle East, which is significantly impacting our economy and lives."

He added, "However, the strength of the Korean people lies in our ability to unite as a greater 'us' in the face of national crises, and we can overcome any challenge. The government will work alongside the people to overcome this crisis and strive to create a proud Republic of Korea that our fallen heroes and patriotic spirits long for."

President Lee concluded by emphasizing, "Creating a world where we live well together in peace and prosperity is the true way to honor the sacrifices of our fallen heroes and to further illuminate their noble spirit."