The 65th May 16 National Salvation Revolution Commemorative Ceremony and National Rally, jointly hosted by the May 16 National Salvation Revolution Spirit Succession Association and the People's Volunteers, was held on the 16th in the vicinity of Mullae Neighborhood Park in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. [Photo by Reporter Im Yo-hee]

The 65th May 16 National Salvation Revolution Commemorative Ceremony and National Rally, jointly hosted by the May 16 National Salvation Revolution Spirit Succession Association and the People's Volunteers, was held on the 16th in the vicinity of Mullae Neighborhood Park in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

Under the slogan "May 16, the Beginning of National Reconstruction, Leap Forward Again, Republic of Korea!", this event was prepared with the aim of commemorating the historical significance of the May 16 National Salvation Revolution and reaffirming the renewed leap forward of the Republic of Korea. 

"We must overcome national crises with the spirit of 'We can do it'."

The venue, Mullae Neighborhood Park, was once the site of the 6th Corps Headquarters. During the May 16 event, Major General Park Chung-hee, who was stationed as the 6th Corps Commander at the time, used this location, the closest to the center of Seoul, as his command post based on his experience. A bust of President Park Chung-hee is located in Mullae Neighborhood Park.

On this day, following a rendition of the national anthem by vocalist Lee Young-ran on a special stage set up on the road in front of Homeplus, the event officially began with the recitation of the May 16 Revolution Pledges by Lee Seok-bok, Chairman of the Korea Military Academy Class of '21 (Reserve Major General).

Pointing to a photograph displayed as the stage backdrop, Chairman Lee recalled, "This is the scene where Major General Park Chung-hee read the May 16 Revolution Pledges in front of City Hall after the operation, amidst a crowd of welcoming citizens and a shower of flowers." He added that this was when he was a second-year student at the Korea Military Academy.

Chairman Lee Seok-bok pointed to a photograph displayed as the stage backdrop and recalled, "This is the scene where Major General Park Chung-hee read the May 16 Revolution Pledges in front of City Hall after the operation, amidst a crowd of welcoming citizens and a shower of flowers." He added that this was when he was a second-year student at the Korea Military Academy. [Photo by Reporter Im Yo-hee]

Won Jong-sam, Chairman of the ROTC Patriotic Comrades Association

Chairman Lee continued, "May 16 was not a military coup, but a spiritual revolution with the spirit of 'We can do it,' a social revolution from rural to industrial society, and an economic revolution that freed us from 5,000 years of hardship."

The May 16 Revolution Pledges, re-proclaimed today, are: △Making anti-communism the national policy and reorganizing the anti-communist posture △Strengthening ties with the free ally, the United States △Eliminating old evils and correcting national integrity △Rebuilding the economy and solving desperate poverty △Cultivating capabilities for national unification △Transferring power to civilians after achieving the mission.

Won Jong-sam, Chairman of the ROTC Patriotic Comrades Association, praised the day, stating, "Today, 65 years ago on May 16, was the day we declared anti-communism as the primary national policy, a decisive day that changed the course of history, a day that saved the Republic of Korea standing at a precipice amidst chaos, and a day of national salvation that achieved the miracle on the Han River, astonishing the world, with the sole determination to protect the people in the face of national crisis."

He further emphasized, "President Park Chung-hee built the Republic of Korea into a proud nation on the world stage with the confidence that 'we can do it,' the self-esteem that 'we will solve our problems ourselves,' and the vision of leaving a better Republic of Korea for our descendants." He added, "As long as the spirit of the May 16 National Salvation Revolution lives on, any crisis can be overcome."

"May 16 National Salvation Spirit Should Be Included in the Preamble of the Constitution"

In the following session, Seo Guk-il, representative of the People's Volunteers, urged, "If it hadn't been for May 16, we would still be living worse lives than Venezuela or North Korea. Let us enshrine the May 16 Revolution spirit, which instilled in us the strong belief that 'we can do it' and elevated Korea to the world's 10th largest economy, in the preamble of the constitution."

Seo Guk-il (top), representative of the People's Volunteers, and Shim Jae-hong, spokesperson for the Free University.Shim Jae-hong, spokesperson for the Free University, asked, "How great things has the Korean people achieved under the values of diligence, self-reliance, and cooperation?" He then questioned, "Are we diligent now, are we self-reliant, are we cooperating?"

He stated, "True diligence means not giving up even if immediate results are not achieved." He urged, "We must join forces with the older generation, who once achieved miracles, to write history anew." He also reflected, "It is our mission to spread the message that even someone as insignificant as me can make history, to every corner of the country."

Amidst the early summer heat, numerous patriotic conservatives gathered and shouted "Destroy Communism!" and loud cheers erupted from the audience every time a speaker took the stage. Notably, the Daegu TKYC demonstrated their passion by chartering a bus for 28 members to travel to Seoul starting at 8 AM.

The event concluded with a march of approximately 2.5 kilometers from Mullae Park Intersection along Dangsan-ro to Dangsan Station.

Daegu TKYC [Photo by Reporter Im Yo-hee]

People's Volunteers. [Photo by Reporter Im Yo-hee]

Honam Right-Wing Friends (Ho-u-chin)

FLD 

Naval Academy Patriotic Comrades Association

Marine Corps Veterans Association

Republic of Korea ROTC Patriotic Comrades Association

National Defense Alliance of High School Students

Meanwhile, the organizations that hosted and organized today's event are: △People's Volunteers △May 16 National Salvation Revolution Spirit Succession Association △National Enlightenment Movement Headquarters △National Countermeasures Headquarters for Protecting People's Lives △Republic of Korea ROTC Patriotic Comrades Association △Republic of Korea Constitution Defense Corps △Free Korea Citizens' Assembly △Korean National Assembly to Oppose Communism △Yongsan Keepers △Korea-US Advanced Technology Alliance △Korea Women's Association △Metropolitan Headquarters of the United Front of Liberal Democratic Patriotic Organizations △Jemulpo Right-Wing Conservative Gathering △National Federation for Truth-Finding Regarding Distortion of May 18 History △Korea-German Vocational Training Welfare Foundation △Park Chung-hee Presidential Birthplace Preservation Association △Park Chung-hee Academy Alumni Association △Park Chung-hee Spirit Culture Promotion Association △Park Chung-hee Presidential Supporters △Republic of Korea Patriotic Citizens Forum △Gyeongbuk Culture Forum △Korea-US Alliance Council △Veterans Association for National Defense △310 Special Mission Unit △Free High School Alliance (57 supporting high schools) △International Freedom Sovereignty Federation △Guktubon △Daejeon National Citizens' Natural Defense Corps △Militia △National Movement Against Electoral Fraud and Corruption △Patriotic Alliance △Daebulchong △Free Korea Citizens' Gathering △Movement Headquarters for the Defense of Liberal Democracy △United Patriotic Comrades Association of the Entire Military (13 organizations including Korea Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Korea Army Academy) △United Patriotic Comrades Association of Combat Police △National Movement Headquarters for the Abolition of Privileges △Paju Taegeukgi Keepers △Korea-US Freedom Wave △Marine Corps Guard Unit △Marine Corps Veterans Patriotic Comrades Association △Republic of Korea National Defense Association △KCPAC (22 organizations) △Taegeukgi National Revolutionary Movement Headquarters △Republic of Korea Transparent World Alliance △Free University △FLD △Ho-u-chin (Honam Right-Wing Friends).

Reporter Im Yo-hee