President Lee proposes peace regime transition at 81st Liberation Day ceremony

President Lee Jae-myung attended the 81st Liberation Day ceremony at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, presenting a vision for a ‘new liberation’ and a future-oriented roadmap for the Korean Peninsula.

In his commemorative address, President Lee called for the parties involved to begin discussions to end the long-standing war and transition the current unstable armistice system into a permanent peace regime. He emphasized the need to move away from mutual threats and toward peace coexistence and shared prosperity. While not explicitly naming all participants, his proposal for multilateral dialogue suggests a framework involving North and South Korea, the United States, and potentially China.

The ceremony featured technological tributes, including the use of generative AI to recreate historical independence activists such as Kim Gu, An Chang-ho, and Lee Hoe-young. The event also included awards for descendants of independence fighters and performances aimed at celebrating South Korea’s global standing.