Ahead of March 1st anniversary, Pres. Moon says Koreans determining their own destiny

문 대통령, 3.1절 100주년 앞두고 "전 식민지서 이제 우리 스스로 변화 주도"This friday, Koreans will celebrate the 100th anniversary of a very important historic event that helped the nation break free from Japan's oppressive colonial rule.Ahead of the centennial of the March 1st Independence Movement, President Moon Jae-in emphasized the importance of Korea taking control in deciding the Peninsula's fate.Shin Se-min tells us more. With Korea set to mark the 100th anniversary of the country's March First Independence Movement and the establishment of the provisional government,… President Moon Jae-in highlighted the importance of Korea's leadership in deciding the fate of the country and the Peninsula at large. Taking the weekly Cabinet meeting outside the parameters of a public facility-- to a memorial of an independence fighter,… the president said the country had come a long way since a hundred years ago... when it was under the colonial rule, and unable to decide its own fate."Today, our status in the international community has completely shifted. We deserve to enjoy the self-respect pride."Emphasizing that the country is only one of seven countries in the world with more than 50-million people and a per capita income of 30-thousand U.S. dollars,… the president said Koreans must take control of its own destiny.He also took pride... that his country is now getting more attention and acknowledgements from around the world... for its role in managing changes on the Korean Peninsula. "We are no longer in the periphery of history. I hope we open up a new era with pride and confidence, that the strength to decide our course for the next 100 years rests within us."Also ahead of the Kim-Trump summit in Vietnam,... President Moon had previously called for preparation on resuming inter-Korean economic cooperation,... something he said was required for Seoul to take control of the fate of the Korean Peninsula.In time for the anniverary of the 100th Independence Movement this week-- the government also conferred the Republic of Korea Medal to Yu Gwan-sun, a female martyr who symbolized the March 1st Independence Movement.It's an upgrade from the third-highest civilian order she had been given before. Shin Se-min, Arirang News.