Lee pledges to seize pro-Japanese collaborators' assets, vows proper honor for 'uniformed citizens'

"Honor and compensation must be shown through action, not words"

President Lee Jae Myung delivers a commemorative address at the 71st Memorial Day ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on Saturday. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung pledged Saturday to investigate and reclaim assets illegally accumulated by pro-Japanese collaborators and anti-national actors, and to set a precedent to prevent such conduct from recurring.

Lee made the remarks at the 71st Memorial Day ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, saying that honoring those who defended the community and punishing those who betrayed it for personal gain are both "critically important duties incumbent upon those of us still living."

The ceremony, held under the theme "We Will Remember, Record and Take Responsibility," drew some 3,000 attendees, including the bereaved family of the late Senior Police Officer Lee Jae-seok, representative families of the fallen, heads of veterans' organizations, residents of border communities in Paju's Daeseong-dong and Cheorwon's Daemari, elementary and middle school students, and members of the general public.

In his address, Lee said he honored "the noble sacrifice of the patriots and war heroes who gave their lives for the Republic of Korea" on the occasion of the 71st Memorial Day.

He also paid tribute to the families of three fallen public servants present at the ceremony — Senior Police Officer Lee Jae-seok, who gave his life vest to save another person and died at sea; and Warrant Officers Jeong Sang-geun and Jang Hui-seong, who held the controls of their helicopter until the very end to protect public safety. "I extend my deepest condolences," Lee said. "Our people and the Republic of Korea will always remember the noble spirit of the deceased."

Lee said Memorial Day is a day "for all of us to remember, record and honor with a spirit of remembrance the noble dedication of all those who gave their lives for the country," adding that "today's Korea stands upon all the tomorrows they sacrificed."

He went on to honor the sacrifices of independence fighters, war heroes and democratic citizens, saying that without their service, "the Republic of Korea that the world admires today could never have existed, and the free and peaceful daily lives we enjoy would have been impossible."

Lee repeatedly stressed the need to provide proper recognition to those who served.

"Honoring the spirit of our forebears and giving them the recognition they deserve is a historical and social duty we, the living, must fulfill," he said, adding that "recognition for dedication is the driving force that sustains and advances the national community."

"If dedication for all is met with indifference, who would step forward for the community in the face of another crisis?" he said. "That is why extraordinary sacrifice for all must be met with extraordinary compensation and recognition. Honor and compensation must be shown through action, not words."

President Lee Jae Myung offers incense at the Memorial Tower during the 71st Memorial Day ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on Saturday. [Yonhap]

Regarding the government's pledges on recognition, Lee cited the implementation of an amendment to the Act on the Honorable Treatment of Persons of Distinguished Services to Independence — expanding compensation coverage for bereaved families — including spousal livelihood allowances, an expansion of contracted medical institutions, and the designation of quasi-veterans hospitals. "We will make only promises we can keep, and we will keep every promise we make, to repay this noble dedication made for all," he said.

Lee also said that punishing those who betrayed the community for personal gain is just as important as honoring those who defended it. "Only when dedication is elevated and betrayal is punished can just unity for the continuity and advancement of the national community be achieved," he said.

In this regard, he introduced the Act on the Reversion of Pro-Japanese Collaborators' Property to the State, promulgated June 2, and reaffirmed his commitment to reclaiming assets held by pro-Japanese anti-national actors.

Lee also addressed the need to properly honor "uniformed citizens" — members of the military, police and fire services.

"Thanks to the dedication of our soldiers, firefighters, police officers, coast guard personnel and correctional officers, citizens can go about their daily lives with peace of mind," he said. "The government will provide solid support so that our 'uniformed citizens' can focus entirely on their duties for the nation and its people, without lacking for anything."

He also pledged to "decisively improve the support system for injured service members so that soldiers who are unfortunately wounded during military service can receive veterans' benefits the moment they are discharged," and noted that dependent family allowances are now being paid to all service members and officers injured in the line of duty through Grade 7.

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung leave through Hyeonchungmun Gate after paying their respects at the Memorial Tower during the 71st Memorial Day ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on Saturday. [Yonhap]

Lee also expressed concern over the country's current challenges. "Korea is once again riding out waves of crisis. The high waves of the Middle East war, which crashed upon us before we could even catch our breath after normalizing a country shattered by insurrection, are having a profound impact on our economy and our lives," he said.

He said he was nonetheless confident the country would overcome any crisis, citing the Korean people's proven capacity to unite as a stronger whole in the face of national hardship. "The government will work together with the people to overcome this crisis and forge ahead on the path to building a proud Republic of Korea — the nation our patriots and war heroes always longed to see," he said.

Lee said his vision was of "a country where everyone, regardless of where they live, can enjoy an equal quality of life; a safe country where all can live with peace of mind; a hopeful country where a better tomorrow is always within reach; a world of shared prosperity, filled with peace and abundance — the Republic of Korea." He said he was convinced that "building such a proud nation is the truest way to honor the sacrifice of our patriots and war heroes and to further illuminate their noble spirit."

He closed by saying he again honored "the noble sacrifice and dedication of the patriots and war heroes on this 71st Memorial Day."

moone@heraldcorp.com