Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
PM urges inter-Korean peace for world peace
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon speaks during a ceremony for the National Foundation Day at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon stressed the importance of establishing peace between the two Koreas to contribute to world peace and realize the philosophy of Dangun, the legendary founder of Korea, Thursday, which was National Foundation Day.
“We need to end hostility between South and North Korea and secure peace by fulfilling people's wishes to contribute to world peace,” Lee said during a ceremonial event in Seoul to mark the 4,351st anniversary of the country's foundation.
Adding to building peace, he pointed out South Koreans should seek development, democracy and cooperation to achieve the dream of Dangun, the legendary founder of the first Korean kingdom of Gojoseon, which aimed to materialize the spirit of Hongik Ingan, or to broadly benefit humanity, and Iwha Segye, or guidance of the world through principles of nature.
Citing the South's economic success, democracy and popular culture, Lee said “We should remember the spirit of our founder Dangun and his philosophy. The government will continue to take efforts to do so with its people.”
His remarks were made amid a months-long stalemate between the two Koreas after the breakdown of the Hanoi summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump. The South has been making no progress in advancing inter-Korean relations, failing to have talks with officials from Pyongyang while the North has been rejecting dialogue with the South and test-firing missiles. On Wednesday, Pyongyang test-fired a new type of SLBM Pukguksong-3 into the East Sea, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
The Koreas have been sharing the Dangun myth in different ways; the South has been claiming that Dangun is the founder of Korea while the North shares a similar understanding of him, but began to claim that it found Dangun's tomb in Pyongyang in 1993.
Lee also said the South should develop economically, culturally and politically so that the country can broadly benefit its descendants and all of humanity.
“We built a democracy to which the world paid attention, and also faces challenges. Establishing democracy and the rule of law in every field will be the way to for the world to run.”
Stressing that the necessity of building an inclusive nation, he said no one should be excluded from protection in society and pledged to better protect the weak and expand the social safety net for the benefit of humanity.