[Full Text] President Moon: "In the New Year, We Will Create 'Definite Change'"... New Year's Speech

2020 Gyeongja Year (庚子年) New Year's Meeting Held by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry

President Moon Jae-in is delivering a New Year's address at the government's joint New Year's meeting held on the 2nd at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] President Moon Jae-in said on the 2nd, "In the new year, we will create even more 'certain change,'" adding, "'Reform of power institutions' and 'reform of a fair society' are the beginning."

President Moon delivered a speech at the '2020 New Year's Gathering for the Year of the White Rat (Gyeongja Year)' held at the International Conference Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul, saying, "No power institution can exist above the people." He also added, "When everyone is truly equal and fair before the law, social trust is formed, and that trust becomes the foundation for coexistence and national unity."

President Moon said, "We will not stop legal and institutional reforms until power institutions can gain the trust of the people," and "I expect power institutions themselves to take the lead in reform." He also emphasized, "As the president elected by the people, I will fulfill my authority according to the Constitution."

Below is the full text of President Moon's New Year's joint meeting speech.

[Full Text]

Respected citizens,

Distinguished guests,

I wish you a happy new year.

Having passed the 100th anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement and the establishment of the Provisional Government,

we have reached a meaningful year to start a new 100 years of the Republic of Korea.

At the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which 'has shared the birth and development of our country's commerce and industry,'

looking back on the past year,

and extending New Year's greetings for the 'Gyeongja Year (庚子年)' to the people,

I myself make a new resolution.

We were able to transform from a monarchy to a democratic republic

through the March 1st Independence Movement and the establishment of the Provisional Government,

and through two remarkable leaps of economic growth and democracy,

we have created today's Republic of Korea.

On that foundation, last year we

prepared for a new leap forward, dreaming of a 'country where we all prosper together' where democracy is realized in the economy as well.

In response to Japan's export restrictions,

we achieved localization of core materials, parts, and equipment and diversified imports,

and starting with the 'Gwangju-type job,' regional win-win jobs were created in Miryang, Daegu, Gumi, Hoengseong, and Gunsan.

There were efforts for coexistence between small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations,

and compromises and cooperation among labor, management, civil society, and government.

The people actively participated in change,

expressed diverse voices,

created hope, and presented new challenges.

The new leap we must achieve in the new year is

a 'win-win leap.'

Last year, we confirmed that even if it seemed a bit slow,

going together is the faster path.

Fundamentally solving economic inequality and polarization

is possible only when we grow together,

and true national unity is possible only on that foundation,

which we felt deeply once again.

The conflicts and pains we experienced last year

can become valuable lessons if we use them as opportunities to empathize with each other.

In 2019, we were able to gain confidence

by confirming the results of the path we chose.

In the new year 2020,

we will make sure the people can more clearly feel and empathize with those results.

The vision of a 'country where we all prosper together' will become clearer.

Dear citizens,

Last year, we overcame various difficulties at home and abroad

and laid the foundation for a 'country where we all prosper together.'

It was a year of significant progress toward an innovative inclusive state.

We were the first in the world to commercialize 5G,

achieved continuous world No. 1 in ICT national competitiveness,

and became a country leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution era.

Last year alone, five unicorn companies were born, increasing the total to 11,

and both new venture investment and the number of newly established corporations reached record highs.

The number of employed persons increased by more than 300,000 for four consecutive months until November last year,

and the number of regular workers and those enrolled in employment insurance steadily increased,

showing clear improvements in both quantity and quality of employment.

The youth employment rate reached its highest level in 13 years.

With child allowances, expanded all-day care, and free high school education,

the burden of raising children was reduced,

and health insurance coverage was greatly strengthened,

especially reducing medical expenses significantly for those with severe illnesses or difficult circumstances.

Within about two years, 'Dementia Safety Centers' were established in all public health centers nationwide,

fulfilling the promise of the 'National Responsibility System for Dementia.'

Despite rapid aging,

household income increased evenly across all classes,

and income distribution improved.

Through strong promotion of the 'Three Major Projects to Protect People's Lives,'

traffic accidents and industrial accident deaths also greatly decreased.

I am confident these trends will continue.

Changing the major framework of national policy is very difficult,

but it is a path we must take.

I am especially grateful to the people for enduring the inconveniences,

and I am very proud that these achievements were made through mutual concessions.

In the new year, we will create even more 'certain change.'

'Reform of power institutions' and 'reform of a fair society' are the beginning.

No power institution can exist above the people.

When everyone is truly equal and fair before the law,

social trust is formed,

and that trust becomes the foundation for coexistence and national unity.

We will not stop legal and institutional reforms until power institutions can gain the trust of the people.

I expect power institutions themselves to take the lead in reform.

As the president elected by the people,

I will fulfill my authority according to the Constitution.

Supporting 'innovation,' the driving force of growth,

is also a belief in 'fairness.'

Since the launch of our government,

most circular shareholdings among large business groups have been resolved,

and unfair trade practices have greatly improved,

showing some achievements in a fair economy.

However, in education, society, and culture overall,

there is still a long way to go for 'fair society reform' that meets the people's expectations.

The government has keenly felt the high demands of the people, especially the youth,

who desire equal opportunities and fair competition,

and will definitely respond to them.

We will root fairness in our society.

With the determination that 'there is no win-win leap without a fair society,'

we will improve unfairness existing in all areas of our lives, from education and recruitment to tax evasion, military service, and workplaces.

For a 'win-win leap,'

we will especially focus more on economic innovation in the new year.

If the government's support, including fostering new industries and regulatory innovation, is added to the private sector's efforts to revive economic vitality,

I am confident our economy will make a new leap this year.

We will further promote investment through large-scale investment projects totaling 100 trillion won combining private and public sectors,

and incentives such as the 'Three-piece Tax Incentive Set for Corporate Investment Promotion.'

We will establish the DNA economy foundation fostering data, networks, and artificial intelligence,

and boldly invest in three new industries: system semiconductors, bio-health, and future cars.

We will also more boldly innovate vested interest regulations that block the entry and growth of new technologies and new industries.

2020 is also the first year of the '10 trillion won era of living SOC.'

We will actively cooperate with local governments to lead balanced national development while improving the quality of life of local residents through win-win regional jobs, locally led youth jobs, and urban regeneration New Deal projects.

Following the record high of 17.5 million inbound tourists in 2019,

we will open the '20 million inbound tourists era' in 2020.

We will expand and make full use of the Hallyu (Korean Wave) infrastructure.

We will solve employment stagnation among those in their 40s and the manufacturing sector, which is the backbone of our economy,

and carefully consider the lives of single-person households due to changes in population and household structures.

Respected citizens,

distinguished guests,

With the people's desire for peace on the Korean Peninsula,

we will surely achieve a 'win-win prosperous peace community.'

Last year, we moved forward step by step toward peace on the Korean Peninsula, in line with the international community,

and dialogue intentions between the North Korean and U.S. leaders continue.

'Peace' does not come without action.

International interest and response to the 'Demilitarized Zone International Peace Zone' proposed at the UN General Assembly are increasing,

and cooperation with ASEAN is also strengthening through the 'Korea-ASEAN Special Summit' and the 'Korea-Mekong Summit.'

We will also broaden our scope of maneuver in inter-Korean relations and continue our efforts.

This year, the 'P4G Summit' and the 'Korea-China-Japan Summit' will be held in our country,

and we have become the chair country of 'MIKTA.'

By fulfilling our responsibilities in the international community,

we will be able to more actively realize the new Korean Peninsula era for win-win prosperity.

Trees grow stronger in winter.

Despite the internal and external difficulties of low growth and global economic downturn,

our people have chosen the path of living well together through coexistence.

I believe this will be the way to strengthen our economy more firmly.

Like the 'white rat' of the Gyeongja year,

we will achieve 'wisdom and perseverance' and 'abundance and hope.'

Our people will surely become citizens of a 'country where we all prosper together' through a 'win-win leap.'

May this new year be one in which businesses, labor, and households all

grow their hopes for the future even greater.

May the people's achievements become the government's achievements,

and the government's achievements return as the people's achievements,

making it a fruitful year.

Thank you.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.