Commemorative Address on the 107th Anniversary of the March First Movement

Respected patriots and bereaved families,

and beloved three million citizens of Incheon Metropolitan City

and seven million overseas Koreans,

Today, as we mark the 107th anniversary of March First,

when the cries for independence and freedom resounded across the nation,

we have gathered here

to honor the sacrifices and noble will of our forebears

and carry on their spirit.

Incheon, which opened the door to modern history 

with the opening of its port some 140 years ago,

embraced an era of chaos and transformation head-on before any other city.

It has grown into a dynamic international future city

forged through inclusion and innovation,

and through freedom and peace.

Together with you,

I would like to reflect on that precious time

when the sacrifices and dedication of our ancestors

made today’s proud Incheon possible.

In March 1919, Incheon, filled with a fervent aspiration for independence,

became a stronghold of anti-Japanese resistance

and a symbol of national pride,

defended by many citizen heroes who took to the streets.

The flames of the independence movement, 

which began with the student strike at Changyeong Elementary School,

boldly stood against the swords and 

guns of the Japanese Empire, regardless of age or gender,

proving that Incheon was an awakened city.

The cries that began at Man-guk Park that day spread like wildfire 

across the wide fields of Bupyeong and the Hwang-eo Market,

across islands and mainland alike, from Ganghwa to Ongjin,

reaching even the far southern end.

From students and merchants to workers and religious leaders,

the courage of Incheon, united beyond status and class,

fully embodied the spirit of the March First Movement

and symbolized a city of democracy and national defense.

The shouts of that day were a clear expression of the citizens’ will

that the people are the rightful owners of this nation

and that national independence would be determined autonomously.

That spirit led to the conference of representatives 

of the 13 provinces at Man-guk Park in April,

which marked the beginning of the Hanseong Government.

It later culminated in the integration of the Provisional Government,

overcoming complete liberation and countless hardships thereafter,

to build today’s Republic of Korea and Incheon.

Respected citizens,

Today, Incheon is turning into a clear reality in the daily lives of its citizens

the ideals that our forebears dreamed of that day.

In 2024, we opened the era of three million citizens,

achieved the nation’s highest net population inflow rate for three consecutive years,

and recorded a gross regional domestic product of KRW 126 trillion,

standing tall as Korea’s second-largest economic city.

With the launch of the Overseas Koreans Agency 

and the opening of the Korean Business Center,

we are taking root as a global city

together with seven million overseas Koreans around the world.

Embracing once again in Incheon

the joys and sorrows of compatriots 

who once had to leave their homeland from this very city,

we are creating the true meaning of liberation

by becoming one as a city of 10 million.

Now, on this land preserved by the blood of our forebears,

we must prepare for new change and a new leap forward

so that future generations may plant even greater dreams.

With people and goods overflowing through our airport and seaport,

and with culture and art alive wherever one goes,

the path of Incheon is the very future of the Republic of Korea.

The spirit of freedom and independence must continue today

as fairness and responsibility,

and as governance that transforms citizens’ lives.

The nation our forebears dreamed of

was a strong and righteous nation,

a nation that placed its people before politics.

Incheon City will carry on that will,

building a city that firmly supports each and every citizen’s life,

a city where future generations live with hope.

We will always devote our utmost sincerity

to honoring patriots and their bereaved families

and firmly establish Incheon’s unique values

so that their noble sacrifices will not be in vain.

Citizens of Incheon,

The spirit of March First is not a memory of the past

but a task entrusted to us who live today.

Together with the international community, 

we must safeguard universal human values,

build a just society where everyone is guaranteed fair opportunities,

and move toward a future of innovation and challenge

in which we ourselves lead global prosperity and peace.

With the strength of solidarity, not division,

with the value of inclusion, not prejudice,

we will run together with you

to become a city that opens the tomorrow of the Republic of Korea.

Today, we enjoy freedom, peace, and prosperity

through the sacrifices and dedication of our forebears.

Once again, for the independence and freedom of the Republic of Korea,

we bow our heads in deep respect and gratitude

for the noble sacrifices and devotion of the patriotic martyrs.

If we join our strengths together,

we can overcome any difficulty.

At the center of that effort,

Incheon City and I will stand with you.

Thank you.