Moon and Kim pay respects to victims of the May 18th Democratic Movement

President Mon and First Lady Kim attended the 39th May 18th Democratic Movement memorial held on May the 18th in Gwangju Metropolitan City. 

“I was advised to attend the 40th memorial next year but my heart told me I must attend this year. I feel deeply sorry for citizens of Gwangju, I feel ashamed, and I feel I want to appeal to the people” said Moon.

“While citizens of Gwangju were dying in May 1980, I was not there with them and I feel deeply sorry as one who lived in the same era. As the current president, I give my sincere apology on behalf of the people of South Korea for what the responsible state power had done to citizens of Gwangju in May 1980. The truth of what had happened is not about whether you are conservative or progressive politically.” 

“The historical meaning of the May 18th Democratic Movement has already been agreed legally and socially so further argument is meaningless. What we have to do now is to show respect to the victims and to gather our strength to sail forward.” He closed his speech with “The May of the rage and the sadness must be a hope and a consolidation” and the all attendees of the memorial sang together <March for Beloved>, the symbolic song representing the May 18th Gwangju Democratic Movement. 

Moon receives Prince Andrew

President Moon received Prince Andrew, Duke of York, on May the 15th at the Blue House. They discussed on promoting bilateral relations and situations on the Korean Peninsula. Andrew expressed his joy to visit South Korea and delivered the Queen Elizabeth’s regard. 

Moon said that Andrew’s Pitch@Palace project, a network between global companies, startups and investors, was similar to Korea’s innovative growth of startups; as the Pitch&Palace Korea was held in Korea, Moon hoped many Korean startups would join its global final held in London late this year and harvest good fruits. 

Andrew said that the proliferation of Korean startups came from brilliance of Korean brain and he would work hard to activate exchanges and cooperation of startups between the UK and South Korea. 

Moon brought up the fact that the UK dispatched second largest combat troops after the US when the Korean War broke out and the Korean people regarded it as ‘blood alliance’ and Koreans would never lose their gratitude. Andrew showed his gratitude back to Moon for not forgetting the British soldiers and promised to give more support and cooperation for development of the bilateral relations. 

Moon pointed out that the UK was an important partner of South Korea to bring complete denuclearization and permanent peace in the Korean Peninsula and asked continuous support and cooperation. Andrew showed his will of consolidation and support regarding the matter.

Moon receives Frederik

President Moon received Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, and Marry, Crown Princess of Denmark, on May the 20th at the Blue House. Frederik, with an economic mission, visited South Korea on the occasion of celebrating the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries. 

Frederik said that he had visited South Korea for 9 times and the visit this year focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Demark and South Korea; the economic mission was consisted of more than 45 representative Danish companies ranging from health care and food to lifestyle and design. 

Moon said that he hoped that the visit this time would upgrade the bilateral relations between the two countries to a step higher.