President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a ceremony commemorating the 44th anniversary of the Gwangju Democratization Movement, pledged to advance the freedom and welfare of the people to honor the spirit of the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju. He emphasized the need to ensure economic freedom to complement the political freedom achieved since the movement. Yoon also expressed the importance of creating an era focused on the well-being of ordinary people and the middle class by distributing the benefits of economic growth fairly and supporting the socially vulnerable. Yoon's commitment to upholding the values of the Gwangju Democratization Movement was reiterated during his third consecutive attendance at the anniversary ceremony. The movement, which took place on May 18, 1980, saw demonstrators, including students, protesting against the ruling junta led by Chun Doo-hwan, resulting in a violent crackdown and numerous casualties. The President's remarks highlighted the ongoing relevance of the movement's ideals and the need to address both political and economic freedoms in South Korea.