PM Lee urges Koreas to end hostility, distrust
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.”
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.”