Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
Lee vows no ‘unification by absorption’ in Liberation Day address
President Lee Jae Myung delivers an address during a ceremony marking the 80th Liberation Day at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Friday. Joint Press Corps
By Anna J. Park
Seoul emphasizes collaborative, forward-looking relationships with Tokyo
President Lee Jae Myung said South Korea will not seek to absorb North Korea for unification, in an address marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule, Friday.
This conciliatory message is the latest in the Lee administration's conciliatory overtures toward Pyongyang, signaling a commitment to peaceful dialogue and indicating a softer approach to inter-Korean relations.
"We affirm our respect for the North’s current system, aver that we will not pursue any form of unification by absorption and assert that we have no intention of engaging in hostile acts," Lee emphasized in the speech.
President Lee Jae Myung delivers an address during a ceremony marking the 80th Liberation Day at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Friday. Joint Press Corps
His remarks came a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s influential sister, Kim Yo-jong, said in a statement that South Korea has a “delusion for unification by absorption” in its Constitution.
Lee stressed that decades of confrontation stemming from the Korean Peninsula’s division have threatened people’s lives, restricted economic development and posed serious obstacles to the nation’s future.
"Now is the time to move beyond outmoded Cold War mentalities and confrontation and usher in a new era of peace on the Korean Peninsula. Everyone knows that the long, drawn-out hostility benefits people in neither of the two Koreas," he said.
To prevent accidental clashes between the two Koreas and to build military trust, the president said Seoul will take proactive, gradual steps to restore the Sept. 19 Comprehensive Military Agreement, signed in 2018 to halt suspension of all hostile activities on land, at sea and in the air.
Seoul has made several overtures to the North since Lee took office, including halting propaganda broadcasts and removing loudspeakers along the inter-Korean border, urging civic groups to stop launching anti-North Korean leaflets, scaling down joint South Korea-U.S. military drills and having the National Intelligence Service halt its decades-long propaganda radio broadcasts.
President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung, fourth from left in the front row, wave national flags with attendees at the ceremony marking the 80th Liberation Day at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Friday. Joint Press Corps
Regarding Japan, Lee emphasized the importance of moving beyond past conflicts and building a collaborative, forward-looking relationship. He called for wisdom in addressing historical issues while advancing toward a shared future. This year marks both the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation and the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between Seoul and Tokyo.
"It is time to squarely face the past while also wisely stepping forward into the future," Lee underscored. "Guided by the principle of pragmatic, national interest-focused diplomacy, we will seek forward-looking, mutually beneficial cooperation with Japan while holding frequent meetings and frank dialogues through shuttle diplomacy."
In Korean, "shuttle diplomacy" refers to bilateral state visits.
Lee expressed hope that the Japanese government will face its painful history and work to ensure that mutual trust between the two countries is not damaged.
The Korean president also pledged to show special respect to surviving independence activists and expand the scope of compensation for the families of those who contributed to the independence movement.
"Honoring the proud history of our struggle against imperial Japan and upholding the prestige of decorated independence activists is how we protect our community’s past, present and future," Lee noted. "We must no longer tolerate any acts that deny the history of our independence struggle and insult our independence heroes."
President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Song Eon-seog, interim leader of the main opposition People Power Party, at the ceremony marking the 80th Liberation Day at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Friday. Joint Press Corps
At the celebration, leaders of the main opposition People Power Party were in attendance, but declared they would not attend another major event slated for the evening, where citizens are invited to celebrate the commencement of the Lee government.
In a separate address, the president expressed deep gratitude to overseas Koreans, highlighting their unwavering support for the nation through crises, struggles for democratization and moments of national challenge. He pointed out that thanks to their sacrifices and dedication over the past 80 years, South Korea has achieved remarkable progress — simultaneously industrializing and democratizing, and emerging as a culturally admired nation worldwide.