Choo Mi-ae: "Tightening Our Belts to Prepare Children's Future…Will Achieve Inclusive Gyeonggi Province"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae said in her congratulatory address on the 81st Liberation Day anniversary on the 15th, "Today we celebrate the 81st Liberation Day, the light reclaimed through the aspirations and struggles of our entire people," and added, "The light of liberation that brightened every corner of this 30-million-pyeong land 81 years ago today did not come about on its own."

Governor Choo continued, "It is the fruit achieved through the blood and sweat of independence activists and patriots who gave up their lives, property, and everything to reclaim national sovereignty and independence in the face of Japan's brutal exploitation and oppression."

Governor Choo stated, "Because they protected our nation and restored our freedom and right to choose our own future, the Republic of Korea was able to rise from the ashes to become a global economic powerhouse. From steel, shipbuilding, and automobiles to semiconductors, secondary batteries, AI, and K-content, the Republic of Korea has now become a nation that leads global change."

Governor Choo continued, "Gyeonggi Province has likewise grown to become the heart of the Korean economy, accounting for approximately one-quarter of the nation's regional GDP, exports, and businesses," and emphasized, "That we today enjoy freedom and peace and can dream of a better future is all because of the Republic of Korea that they protected for us."

In her address, Governor Choo said, "Gyeonggi Province was the center of the independence movement. Countless patriots of Gyeonggi Province led the way to independence through armed struggle, righteous army movements, national education, and the establishment of the Provisional Government." She added, "Hae-gong Shin Ik-hee of Gwangju led the establishment of the Provisional Government and the Provisional National Assembly; Lee Seok-young of Namyangju devoted his entire fortune to securing funds for the independence movement; No-eun Kim Kyou-sik of Yangju devoted himself to the forefront of armed independence struggle; and Yun Ki-seop of Paju dedicated his entire life to training independence armies at the Shinheung Military Academy."

Governor Choo continued, "I engrave deeply in the hearts of our residents the noble life and resolute will of Patriot O Sung-gyu, Gyeonggi Province's only surviving patriot and the Republic of Korea's oldest living patriot," and declared, "Inheriting that indomitable spirit with which he walked toward the Korean Liberation Army through bloody hardship, Gyeonggi Province will not leave a single independence activist in the shadows of history."

In her address, Governor Choo said, "The nation that the patriots dreamed of was not merely one where stolen national sovereignty was reclaimed," and emphasized, "It was a nation where the people are sovereign, everyone is treated fairly, people create a better future for themselves, and we live together beyond our differences. I believe that spirit is the values of fairness, innovation, and inclusion that we must uphold today."

Governor Choo stated, "Our people rose up with the March First Movement to reclaim the sovereignty of our stolen nation, and through the April 19 Revolution, the May 18 Democratic Uprising, and the June Democratic Struggle against dictatorship and injustice, we upheld that the people are the masters of the nation," and added, "The power to protect democracy against illegal martial law and rebellion that threatened constitutional order also came from the people."

Governor Choo pledged, "Sovereignty belongs to the people, proper respect for dedication, and special compensation for special sacrifice. That is the fairness we must uphold. I will create a fair Gyeonggi Province where privilege and illegal shortcuts do not work and people who live with integrity are not disadvantaged."

In particular, Governor Choo stated, "Gyeonggi Province is now facing challenging fiscal conditions as well. However, we cannot stop because of difficulties. We must protect the livelihood of our residents and prepare for our children's future. We will conserve what we can spend, cut what we can reduce, and steadfastly uphold what must be done. We will tighten our belts with a heart willing to cut to the bone, but we will not stop preparing for the future," clearly expressing her resolve to overcome the fiscal crisis.

Governor Choo continued, "Gyeonggi Province must also become a community where no one loses heart because of their starting point, is not pushed out of the community because of hardship, and where the south and north, cities and rural areas, and generations and classes share opportunities together," and emphasized, "Not taking any single life lightly and embracing the lives of 14.2 million residents with different backgrounds within one Gyeonggi Province. That is the inclusion of Gyeonggi Province."