The President highlighted the role of democracy in Korea's development on an occasion set to mark the day 27 years ago when citizens in the city rose up against the military dictatorship.

President Roh Moo-hyun has gone to Gwangju every year on May 18 since taking office in 2003 to mark the 1980 democratic uprising.

"The power of democracy is writing a new history. It's writing a new history clearly different from that before 1987 in all fields of politics, economy, society, culture, diplomacy and security," President Roh said.

This year marks the 27th anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju massacre, in which soldiers brutally suppressed demonstrators protesting the authoritarian government of Chun Doo-hwan.

President Roh in Gwangju hailed the citizens of the southwestern city for fighting a government that took power through a coup and criticized anti-democratic forces in the country.

He said military governments did achieve economic development, but did so by depriving other people of opportunities.

The chief executive cites that eye-opening industrial progress came only after democracy settled in the country in 1987.

He also said efforts for a permanent peace commitment on the Korean peninsula are also the result of the democratic government's triumph.

Arirang News