76th Memorial for Korean War Civilian Victims... Lee: "We Must Uncover the Concealed Truth"

President Lee Delivers First-Ever Memorial Address

Pledges to Restore Honor of Civilian Victims

"Setting History Right Is the State's Duty"

Pursues Excavation and Identification of Remains

Swift Construction of Golryeonggol Mem

President Lee Jaemyung said on Nov. 6 that “it is the duty of the state today to clearly uncover the truth concealed by the state in the past and set right a history that was distorted.” Emphasizing the government’s responsibility to investigate state violence and restore the honor of the victims, he pledged to expedite the excavation of remains and identification of victims, as well as the construction of a nationwide memorial facility.

President Lee Jaemyung speaks at a senior secretaries and aides meeting at the Blue House on Nov. 5, 2026. Yonhap News Agency

President Lee made the remarks in a written memorial address read by Jeon Seonghwan, senior secretary for listening and integration at the Blue House, at the 76th National Joint Memorial Service for Civilian Victims Before and During the Korean War held that day. It is the first time a sitting president has sent a memorial address to the national joint service, hosted by the National Association of Families of Civilian Victims Before and During the Korean War.

“Seventy-six years ago, a terrible tragedy unfolded on this land,” President Lee said in tribute. “Amid the turmoil of war that shook the entire Korean Peninsula, countless innocent people were unjustly killed.” He added, “Some were sacrificed because their political ideologies differed; others because they were implicated in allegations against family members or neighbors; and still others without even knowing why.”

President Lee drew attention not only to the innocent lives lost during the war but also to the silence and suffering that bereaved families had to endure for many years. “What is even more heartbreaking is that the tragedy of that day did not end with the deaths of the victims,” he said. “Those left behind could not fully express even their grief over losing family members, friends and neighbors.”

“With nowhere to appeal their grievances and no way to uncover the truth, they had to live in forced silence, afraid that other family members might suffer as a result,” he said.

He also made clear that the work of investigating the truth and restoring the victims’ honor remains unfinished. President Lee said, “Thanks to the tireless efforts of bereaved families, truths that had been buried have come to light, and investigations by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and others have revealed some of the realities of state violence. But much remains to be done compared with what should rightfully be accomplished.”

In particular, he described uncovering the truth about state violence and correcting past wrongs as the responsibility of the state. The remarks underscored that the state today must investigate events concealed by the state in the past, and that practical measures are needed not only to establish the facts but also to restore the victims’ dignity and honor.

He also announced plans to expedite efforts to help victims’ families find their loved ones through the excavation and identification of remains. “The government will actively pursue efforts to reunite victims with their families through the excavation and identification of remains, and will do its utmost to ensure they can return to their families as soon as possible,” President Lee said.

He further pledged, “We will also make greater efforts to ensure that construction of the nationwide memorial facility at Golyeonggol in Daejeon begins promptly and that measures to restore the victims’ honor are carried out without a hitch.” He expressed the government’s commitment to continuing its work on follow-up measures to address historical injustices, including establishing the facts, recovering remains and building memorial facilities.

Finally, President Lee said, “No matter how much time passes, the grief of carrying a loved one in one’s heart will never fade.” He added, “I will never forget your resolve and all you have done to uncover the truth and set history right.”

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