Changwon: President Lee Jae Myung announced on Sunday that the government will intensify efforts to identify and compensate activists involved in the 1960 democracy movement, ensuring they receive appropriate recognition and reparation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee made this commitment during a ceremony commemorating the 66th anniversary of the March 15 Democracy Movement in Changwon. Lee is the first sitting president to participate in the event since it was declared a national memorial day in 2010. In his address, he expressed his apologies to the families of victims affected by state violence during the movement, emphasizing his commitment to acknowledging their sacrifices.

The March 15 Democracy Movement began in Masan, now part of Changwon, as a protest against election fraud under then-President Rhee Syng-man. These protests spread nationwide, leading to the April 19 Revolution and Rhee's eventual ouster. President Lee emphasized the government's ongoing efforts to honor these activists, aiming to embed their spirit in society and pass it on to future generations by granting awards, preserving historical records, and properly recognizing participants of the movement and the subsequent revolution.

Lee highlighted the ongoing relevance of the movement's lessons, citing the December 3, 2024, political crisis when former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law was met with public resistance. Yoon was recently sentenced to life imprisonment for his insurrection attempt linked to the martial law imposition.

Lee praised the citizens' resilience during this crisis, likening it to the March 15 Democracy Movement as a triumph against the ambitions of power permanence. He described December 3, 2024, as a day when citizens overcame despair and ushered in renewed hope.

Before the ceremony, President Lee paid tribute to the victims and democracy activists by laying a wreath at the national cemetery.