PPP’s new emergency committee chairman visits Gwangju and expresses gratitude to its citizens

Han Dong-hoon, chairman of the National Power Emergency Committee, visits the National 5-18 Democracy Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju, on Thursday to pay his respects to the martyrs Yoon Sang-won and Park Ki-soon. Yonhap News Agency

Han Dong-hoon, new emergency committee chairman of the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP), visited Gwangju on January 4 and said, "I actively agree to include the May 18 spirit in the full text of the Constitution." It is interpreted that he is showing respect for the May 18 spirit and trying to attract voters in South and North Jeolla Provinces ahead of the general election in April. However, he said that some conservatives' disparagement of May 18 is different from the PPP’s stance, but added, "There are a wide variety of views in the world."

Speaking to reporters after visiting the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju, Han said, "The spirit of Gwangju in May is the spirit of protecting democracy under difficult circumstances. I think the spirit is exactly the same as the current constitutional spirit of Korea.” But he added, "We are having a good discussion at the party level about how to do it. The procedure of constitutional amendment is also something to be respected in itself."

Before visiting the National Cemetery, Han visited the Gwangju Student Independence Movement Memorial Tower at Gwangju Jeil High School. "I think the legacy of Gwangju's protest against the injustice of democracy and the rule of law is not just the May 18 movement," Han said. Han's visit to Gwangju came amid strict security in the aftermath of the attack on main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung on January 2. Some party members and supporters surrounded Han, wearing red masks that read "People's Power.”

After paying his respects at the memorial tower, Han visited the Tomb of the Unknown Fighters and knelt down to wipe a tombstone. In the guest book, he wrote, "I admire the great dedication of the people of Gwangju for democracy. I will create a future together with my fellow citizens while considering the meaning.”

Han attended a New Year greeting with PPP's regional members at Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju on January 4. “I and subsequent generations have deep gratitude and respect for the May 18th Democratic Uprising and Gwangju citizens, instead of a sense of debt or guilt," Han said, emphasizing that "we will express and practice that gratitude and respect through policies, budgets, and administration." He also promised to attend the 100th anniversary of former President Kim Dae-jung's birth on January 6.

When asked about the "distortion of the May 18th Democratic Uprising and disparagement of it from conservatives," Han said, “There are a wide variety of views in the world. There will be side effects if you go in a way that completely destroys every one of those views." But he added, "The official position of the PPP is that the spirit of the May 18 spirit is exactly in line with the spirit of the constitution that protects democracy."

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.