South Korea to Designate Dec. 3 as 'National Sovereignty Day' to Commemorate Democracy Movement

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has declared his intention to designate December 3rd as 'National Sovereignty Day,' a new public holiday aimed at commemorating the nation's struggle for democracy. The announcement came on July 17, the 78th anniversary of the Constitution Day.

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Every December 3rd, we will ensure that all citizens remember the events of that day.

President Lee stated that this day will serve as a reminder for all citizens of the events of December 3rd, ensuring that the values of democracy are perpetually passed down to future generations. This initiative is part of his broader agenda to address past injustices and reinforce democratic principles, which he has emphasized throughout his first year in office.

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We have gathered here today to remember the spirit of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which declares the sovereignty of the people, and to commemorate the revolution of light, in which the people defended democracy with their own hands.

The 'Revolution of Light' refers to the non-violent citizen resistance against the alleged illegal state of emergency declared by former President Yoon Suk-yeol. The newly established 'Committee of Light' will spearhead various projects to preserve the spirit of this movement. President Lee also plans to create a digital archive to systematically collect and preserve records of the 'Revolution of Light,' promoting South Korea's participatory democracy as a global model.

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Democracy is not something that is guaranteed forever once won; it must be constantly protected through citizen participation, courage, and solidarity, as we have confirmed through this long history.

Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik proposed initiating discussions for a constitutional amendment in 2027, aiming to finalize the 10th amendment within the current 22nd National Assembly. He suggested prioritizing issues with broad consensus, such as incorporating the spirit of the May 18th Democratization Movement into the constitution's preamble and restricting the president's emergency decree powers. However, the deeply polarized political climate, with the ruling and opposition parties yet to finalize the assembly's committee structure, poses a significant challenge to advancing constitutional reform.

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We will start by addressing tasks with a high level of consensus.