President Lee: "December 3 to Be Designated as 'National Sovereignty Day' Every Year"

Message for the 78th Constitution Day: "Preserving the Records of the Revolution of Light"

"Democracy Must Be Protected through Civic Participation, Courage, and Solidarity"

On July 17, President Lee Jae-myung announced that December 3 would be designated as 'National Sovereignty Day' each year to commemorate the 78th anniversary of Constitution Day. He defined the actions of citizens who stopped the December 3 Martial Law in 2024 as the 'Revolution of Light,' and laid out plans to collect and preserve related records at the national level to share them with future generations and the world.

Certificate of Appreciation attached by President Lee Jae-myung on Facebook on the 17th. (Source: Facebook of President Lee Jae-myung)

In a message titled "To the Great Citizens of Korea Who Defended Democracy," posted on Facebook that day, President Lee stated, "The government of national sovereignty will ensure this great history is remembered and carried on." He added, "We will make sure the significance and spirit of that day are fully handed down to the next generation."

President Lee emphasized, "On this day in 1948, the Republic of Korea proclaimed its founding constitution and declared that the people are the true owners of the nation. The principle of national sovereignty—'Sovereignty of the Republic of Korea resides with the people, and all power comes from the people'—has served as the compass sustaining democratic Korea for the past 78 years."

He continued, "Modern Korean history has been one of fierce struggle, with the people defending their sovereignty against forces attempting to undermine the value of the constitution, democracy, and to privatize power. Democracy, once won, is not guaranteed forever; it must be continually safeguarded by civic participation, courage, and solidarity."

In particular, President Lee described the December 3 Martial Law as "an event that reminded us threats to democracy are not just matters of the past, but a reality that can recur at any time, even in Korea today." He went on to say, "Yet, the great citizens of Korea, through the Revolution of Light, have demonstrated to the world that the spirit of national sovereignty enshrined in our constitution lives and breathes in our lives."

President Lee explained that the records related to the 'Revolution of Light' will be systematically collected and preserved, stating, "We will ensure that K-democracy is widely recognized as a model for global democracy." To that end, he launched the presidential 'Committee of Light,' a body established to honor and spread, both domestically and internationally, the process and spirit by which citizens protected the constitution and democracy during the December 3 Martial Law.

On this day, President Lee also released a certificate of appreciation to be presented to citizens attending the Constitution Day event. The certificate includes a blank space where citizens can write their own names and keep it for themselves.

President Lee said, "Although I wish I could deliver my gratitude in person to everyone who defended democracy, I share this sentiment through this photograph. I hope you will keep it by adding your own name." He added, "I will never forget the citizens who spent cold nights wrapped in foil blankets on the winter asphalt, the young people who guarded the National Assembly in preparation for potential additional martial law, and those who rushed to Namtaeryeong to show solidarity with farmers. I am truly grateful to all of you."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.