[Full Text] Lee Nak-yeon, Leader of the Negotiating Group, Speech "Overcoming COVID-19 Together with the People"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] On the morning of the 7th, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, delivered his first floor speech as the representative of the negotiation group at the National Assembly plenary session, announcing the prompt activation of the permanent consultative body among the ruling and opposition parties and the government, as well as the future policy direction to overcome the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The full text of the speech is as follows.

Overcoming COVID-19 Together with the People

First, I offer my condolences to all those who have lost their lives to COVID-19.

I extend my heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families who have lost their beloved ones.

To those undergoing treatment or self-quarantine, I encourage you to stay strong.

I offer comfort to those facing livelihood crises due to COVID-19.

I also mourn all those who lost their lives due to floods and typhoons.

My condolences go to their families.

To the victims such as farmers, fishermen, and others who lost their homes, I send my sympathies.

Another typhoon is approaching today. This is worrisome.

I urge the government and local governments to prepare meticulously.

Dear citizens and overseas compatriots!

Speaker Park Byeong-seug and senior fellow lawmakers!

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and cabinet members!

I am Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

1. Can everything return to its place?

“The most beautiful scenery in the world

is the scenery where everything returns to its place.”

Such a phrase was displayed on a building at the Gwanghwamun intersection in Seoul.

For everyone, the hope has become that everything returns to its place.

War does not only take lives.

It also takes away people's daily lives entirely.

The war against COVID-19 is no different.

It is not easy to quietly chat over a cup of coffee with good people.

It is cautious to talk loudly while drinking beer and eating chicken with friends.

People hesitate to soak in bathhouses or lie down in jjimjilbangs (Korean saunas).

Dining out with family or weekend trips feel like distant memories.

We have realized something.

We have come to know that the small daily routines were immense happiness.

The moment you briefly take off your mask to sip a cup of tea,

The moment you happen to see the unmasked face of a precious person,

we now understand that those were happiness.

Can we recover such daily lives?

Can we return to the pre-COVID-19 era?

2. Pandemic... Model country, we will win

The world changed so drastically on December 31 last year.

A report was submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO) China office.

“A new viral pneumonia case originating in Wuhan.”

That is how COVID-19 began.

The dreadful infectious disease swept across the world in no time.

As of 6 p.m. on September 6, there were 27 million confirmed cases and 885,000 deaths worldwide.

An unprecedented fear engulfed all countries.

On January 20 this year, COVID-19 infiltrated South Korea.

As of 6 p.m. yesterday, there were 21,000 confirmed cases and 334 deaths.

Korea's response was difficult but excellent.

The world called Korea a “model country.”

More than 100 countries imported our diagnostic kits.

Major countries worldwide emulated our “drive-through” testing.

Korea managed to control the pandemic while minimizing economic contraction.

In early August, the OECD predicted Korea's economic growth rate this year to be -0.8%.

It was the best forecast among the 37 OECD countries.

Such results were thanks to the active cooperation of the people.

Our citizens complied with mask-wearing and social distancing.

The “model country” status was an achievement through public participation.

We are proud of our people.

Thank you to all citizens.

Also, the dedication and expertise of medical staff greatly contributed.

Korean medical workers wear protective suits and masks for the longest hours daily worldwide.

The sight of medical staff resting briefly in protective suits under the scorching heat is moving.

The unwavering and courteous explanations from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency became a symbol of trust.

Thank you to the medical staff and quarantine authorities for your hard work.

However, the tower of quarantine efforts we built was blemished.

The COVID-19 resurgence was triggered by the August 15 Gwanghwamun rally.

Since then, the public has endured harsh social distancing.

Recently, the increase in confirmed cases has slightly slowed.

But we must not be complacent.

There are forces mocking and rejecting quarantine measures.

Following Liberation Day, similar rallies are planned for National Foundation Day.

Nothing is more important than the lives of the people.

Illegal acts threatening citizens' lives cannot be tolerated for any reason.

They must be punished and blocked according to the law.

We have overcome every national crisis steadfastly.

We have overcome colonial exploitation and the ruins of war.

We will also win the war against COVID-19.

Together with the people, we will lead this war to victory.

I hope the people will continue to stand with us unwaveringly.

3. Crushed livelihoods, help those in greater hardship first

Dear citizens,

Honorable lawmakers!

There is a store that posted a sign saying, “It is hard. It is hard. It is hard.”

There is a restaurant that used to sell two bowls of sundae guk (blood sausage soup) a day.

A young person who opened a PC room with a loan has closed it for a month.

Seven out of ten small business owners say they are considering closing if things continue like this.

I want to rush over and offer words of comfort immediately.

But the infectious disease even blocks that.

It is frustrating and heartbreaking.

I feel apologetic as if I have committed a crime.

As with the world, disasters attack the vulnerable first.

The pain of disaster is harsher for the weak.

The virus does not discriminate people.

But the suffering is not equal.

The employment-vulnerable and income-vulnerable groups face livelihood threats.

Self-employed, small business owners, and SMEs are in urgent situations.

Especially industries with high face-to-face contact such as restaurants, coffee shops, academies, bathhouses, and PC rooms are directly hit by social distancing.

Parents raising children feel increasingly helpless.

The COVID-19 resurgence has dashed hopes for economic rebound in the third quarter.

The Bank of Korea lowered this year's growth forecast from -0.2% to -1.3%.

In the worst case, it is predicted to fall to -2.2%.

Concerns are growing in all sectors: production, consumption, and employment.

We must help those suffering the most first.

That is the path to solidarity and fairness.

At the same time, no citizen should suffer unfair disadvantages.

There must be no blind spots.

From this perspective, the government is preparing the fourth supplementary budget this year.

Those struggling should receive support before Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving).

I ask lawmakers from both sides to promptly process the supplementary budget bill soon to be submitted to the National Assembly.

Reasonable opinions from lawmakers during the review process will be gladly accepted.

The Democratic Party will continue to watch over and protect the lives of the people.

4. After COVID-19, for a future of great transformation

Dear citizens,

Honorable lawmakers,

Do you know the “M generation”?

They call today's children the “Mask generation,” or M generation.

Children study online at home.

Even when they go to school occasionally, talking is prohibited.

It is difficult to meet classmates or make friends.

Kids cafes, daycare centers, kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools are all similar.

Even university freshmen cannot experience campus life.

The M generation may not believe their parents' old stories.

What kind of world awaits the future of the M generation?

People say a great transformation has already begun.

The era emphasizing development, growth, competition, and efficiency is passing,

and an era valuing life, peace, inclusion, and coexistence is coming.

I think so too.

We must prepare for such a future.

However, the great transformation will not proceed smoothly.

It leaves wounds along with achievements.

We must support achievements and prevent wounds.

The great transformation will create winners and losers.

We must prepare for South Korea to become a global winner.

We must support domestic losers to revive.

I will mention a few essentials for that.

First is the health safety net.

Pope Francis said,

“God always forgives.

Humans sometimes forgive.

Nature never forgives.”

There is an interpretation that infectious diseases like COVID-19 are nature's punishment.

They stem from environmental destruction and climate change.

Recently, humanity has suffered from new infectious diseases repeatedly.

We have faced SARS, novel flu, and MERS.

Even if COVID-19 is overcome, infectious diseases may come more frequently and severely.

We must prepare for that.

We must expedite the establishment of regional infectious disease specialized hospitals.

Strengthening the public healthcare system remains a long-standing issue.

We will discuss this again through consultative bodies after COVID-19 stabilizes.

For now, we will focus on stabilizing COVID-19 by cooperating with the medical community.

Industrial safety is not a new issue.

Still, about 2,000 workers die annually in industrial accidents.

This is utterly unacceptable and incomprehensible.

We must prevent such tragedies now.

The enactment of the “Basic Act on Life and Safety” and the “Serious Accident Punishment Act” is the start.

I hope the relevant standing committees will work to expedite the passage of these bills.

Second is the social safety net.

As with disasters, changes attack the vulnerable more.

The vulnerable are less prepared to adapt to changes.

Thus, changes generally widen gaps.

Korea's income polarization ranks among the worst in the OECD.

The top 10% hold 43.3% of total income.

The top 1% receive 12.2% of total income.

Conversely, 17.4% of the population lives below 50% of the median income.

Our poverty rate is the third highest in the OECD after the U.S. and Israel.

Polarization can shake the community's belief in sustainability.

Polarization worsened during the IMF foreign exchange crisis.

COVID-19 will further deepen polarization.

The longer the COVID-19 crisis lasts, the more so.

We will find ways to raise incomes across all classes while reducing gaps.

The best welfare is jobs.

But jobs are the first to be threatened.

We must prevent the spread of employment crises.

To do so, we must urgently implement universal employment insurance.

We plan to expand employment insurance starting with artists and special-type workers (S.T.W.).

Then, we will extend it to platform workers and freelancers.

Also, we will promptly establish the National Employment Support System starting next year.

We must become a country where anyone can receive livelihood benefits if needed.

We will urgently expand various social safety nets such as the Basic Livelihood Security Program.

We will strengthen the state's responsibility for childcare and education.

Especially, we will establish a “full-day childcare responsibility system” early.

We started the Basic Livelihood Security Program during the IMF crisis.

Now, I believe we can do much more.

Third is the Korean New Deal and new industries.

The great transformation will impose new orders and standards on humanity.

New economies and new industries will emerge.

We must prepare in advance and lead the great transformation.

The Korean New Deal is the stepping stone and primer for that.

We prepared to become an IT powerhouse during the IMF crisis.

This time, we prepare for the post-COVID era amid the COVID crisis.

The Digital New Deal and Green New Deal are preparations toward becoming a digital and green powerhouse after COVID-19.

Digital transformation is an inevitable trend.

The Digital New Deal will greatly accelerate our digital transformation.

We will establish a “Digital Jiphyeonjeon” connecting libraries, museums, and art galleries nationwide.

We will enhance the survival capacity of existing industries through “smart factories” and “smart stores.”

We will expedite the establishment of data exchanges and data governance.

Through this, we will leap to become a standard-setting country in digital technology.

Green transition is also inevitable.

Historically, new leading countries were those that commercialized new and efficient energy sources first.

Mongolia rose with horses, the Netherlands with wind, the UK and Germany with coal, and the U.S. with oil.

Now, it is clean energy.

We must develop as a leading country in clean energy.

The COVID-19 and climate crises have highlighted the importance of a low-carbon economy.

Worldwide, greenhouse gas reduction and green industry development are progressing rapidly.

The international community is strengthening environmental regulations.

We must respond to these trends to maintain industrial competitiveness and jobs.

We will actively respond to international environmental regulations.

We will expand future vehicles and distributed green energy.

We will build an ecosystem for green finance and green industries.

Alongside the Korean New Deal, I pay attention to the biohealth industry.

International conditions and our capabilities are in place.

Especially, K-quarantine has enhanced trust in Korean biohealth.

The IT industry nurtured during the IMF crisis later became a mainstay of our economy.

I am confident that nurturing the biohealth industry amid the COVID crisis will become another mainstay of the future economy.

Next year's budget reflects a New Deal project plan of 21.3 trillion won.

7.9 trillion won for the Digital New Deal, 8 trillion won for the Green New Deal, and 5.4 trillion won for safety net reinforcement and human investment.

We aim to create 360,000 jobs with this.

Fourth is gender equality.

The participation of women in high-level public offices and local politics is significantly increasing.

Fortunately, but not sufficiently.

The structure oppressing women in our society remains persistent.

We will dismantle the structure oppressing women.

We will firmly respond to all kinds of sexual crimes.

We sincerely apologize again to victims and the public for misconduct by our party's public officials.

We will strengthen internal inspections and gender-sensitivity education to prevent recurrence.

We will promptly reinforce institutional measures to protect victims.

We will create workplaces where women can compete fairly and achieve according to their abilities.

The gender wage gap still stands at 31%.

We will gradually reduce this gap.

We will quickly eliminate the “glass ceiling.”

We will mandate the proportion of female executives in public institutions.

We will encourage private companies and organizations to increase female executives through incentives.

Inequality hides in various aspects of daily life.

Meeting strangers causes worry, and the burden of housework and family care is heavy.

We will pay attention to alleviating such worries and burdens for women.

All such efforts must not fall into frames of confrontation and conflict.

I will be careful to prevent that.

Fifth is balanced development.

The Seoul metropolitan area accounts for only 12% of the national territory.

This year, residents living in the metropolitan area exceeded half of the total population for the first time.

75% of the headquarters of the top 1,000 companies are also in the metropolitan area.

The metropolitan area suffers from obesity.

Overcrowding deteriorates the quality of life for metropolitan residents.

Meanwhile, most local areas struggle with economic decline and population decrease.

Local extinction is not theory but reality approaching.

Regional imbalance harms the happiness of all citizens.

It also damages the nation's development capacity.

We can no longer postpone balanced development.

The most symbolic and effective alternative proposed is relocating the administrative capital.

I hope the National Assembly's Balanced Development Special Committee will promptly activate and decide on this issue.

The capital remains Seoul.

We will further develop Seoul into a pleasant and dignified international city.

We will also swiftly promote the second phase of public institution relocation and additional designation of innovation cities.

I have proposed the balanced development New Deal as an essential concept of the Korean New Deal.

It means that the selection of projects and budget allocation for the Digital and Green New Deals should consider balanced development and favor local areas more.

I repeatedly request the government to do so.

5. The future depends on innovation and determination

Dear citizens,

Senior and fellow lawmakers,

The great transformation is not a choice.

Our choice is only how to navigate the era of great transformation.

To navigate the era of great transformation, we must transform ourselves.

We must innovate.

Innovation requires determination.

The great transformation demands our determination.

Innovation is needed for the success of the Korean New Deal and fostering new industries.

We must support on one hand and dismantle regulations on the other.

Let the ruling and opposition parties make a determination in this regular session.

Determination is needed for expanding safety nets, gender equality, and balanced development.

We must decide on policies and fiscal choices.

I appeal to lawmakers to make this determination in this regular session.

Reforming power institutions is also an important task of innovation.

The establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is central to power institution reform.

The enabling law for the CIO was prepared in the 20th National Assembly after long delays.

The establishment of the CIO under the law is being indefinitely delayed.

I hope the CIO will be established and operated according to the law.

If laws passed by the National Assembly are not upheld because I did not support them, it would be self-denial of parliamentary democracy.

It would send a dangerous signal that only unanimously passed laws must be obeyed.

I also request the completion of other delayed reform legislation in this session.

Power institution reform is essential for the advancement of democracy and the maturity of South Korea.

The attitude of viewing reform legislation as political gain or loss must be reformed first.

6. ‘Ubuntu,’ I am because you are

I will share an African experience of an anthropologist.

The scholar held a running race for children.

He placed a basket full of food the children liked,

and the child who came first would eat all the food.

When the start was called, a surprising scene unfolded.

The children held hands and ran side by side.

They all came in first place.

Then they gathered and shared the food.

The scholar was curious.

“You could have eaten all the food if you came first alone, why did you come together?” he asked.

The children smiled brightly and shouted “Ubuntu!”

‘Ubuntu’

I am because you are.

It is a word from the Bantu people of Africa.

I am because you are.

With the spirit of ‘Ubuntu,’ we achieved K-quarantine.

It was not the first time.

With the spirit of ‘Ubuntu,’ we overcame war and poverty.

We achieved industrialization and democratization.

We overcame the IMF foreign exchange crisis and the global financial crisis.

With such solidarity and cooperation, we will overcome the current national crisis.

We will regain the peaceful daily lives enjoyed with our families and neighbors.

We will successfully prepare for the post-COVID era.

‘Ubuntu,’

My safety depends on my neighbor's safety.

My happiness depends on my neighbor's happiness.

I am because you are.

This is another lesson from COVID-19.

7. Solidarity and cooperation, politics of win-win-win

Dear citizens,

Lawmakers!

Our people have united and cooperated in times of crisis.

Such experience and potential of the people are our proud assets.

How about politics?

Does politics also unite and cooperate in national crises?

Does our politics believe in Ubuntu, that I am because you are?

It is hard to say yes.

Even in national crises and public suffering, politics has not changed much.

Politics often seemed like trying to outwit the opponent.

If politics does not change even in unprecedented national crises, what hope is there?

Let's change now.

Let us stop political strife and practice politics of unity while overcoming the national crisis.

Let us start politics of win-win-win that benefits the people and both ruling and opposition parties.

I will start by making efforts.

I propose restarting the practically suspended regular dialogue among the ruling party, opposition parties, and government.

Let us reach a minimum political consensus on overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and Korea's aspirations.

For example, a “21st-century new grand consensus for progress” recognizing each other's contributions to industrialization and democratization and preparing for the future together.

The grand consensus could include joint efforts to overcome COVID-19, inclusive welfare, digital transformation, climate crisis response, peace on the Korean Peninsula, and completion of democracy.

I propose joint legislation of similar policies of ruling and opposition parties within this session.

Expansion of infectious disease specialized hospitals, support for venture companies, and women's safety, which were common pledges in the April 15 general election, belong to this.

Let us also legislate common party platforms such as economic democratization realization, expansion of youth political participation, and renewable energy expansion.

Competition in politics is inevitable.

But competition can develop beyond political fights into policy competition and cooperation.

Policy cooperation can expand into political cooperation.

I appeal to the ruling and opposition parties to do so.

I have promised “principled cooperation.”

I want to believe no one will oppose just for opposition's sake.

But if there is opposition for opposition's sake, I will firmly reject it.

Unless so, I believe there is no problem that cannot be solved through dialogue.

8. The Korea I dream of, a first-class country where we prosper together

South Korea has already become a world-class country in several fields.

Home appliances, semiconductors, automobiles, shipbuilding, and IT are such fields.

Popular music, movies, webtoons, and the gaming industry follow.

In these fields, we have transformed from a follower to a leader.

Three years ago, we protected the democratic republic with candlelight protests.

This year, we set K-quarantine as the global standard.

Despite the COVID crisis, we safely held general elections with very high voter turnout.

Now, we must leap to become a first-class and leading country in other fields.

I believe that is fully possible.

Digital transformation and green industries, which will be laid as foundations by the Korean New Deal, belong to this.

The biohealth industry, whose trust has increased worldwide through K-quarantine, is also promising.

There is a developmental stage of countries based on function.

Countries develop from night-light countries to welfare states, and from welfare states to happiness states.

A welfare state guarantees the minimum living standards for all citizens.

A happiness state guarantees citizens' happiness in health, safety, culture, leisure, etc.

A welfare state does not include a happiness state.

A happiness state must include a welfare state.

We are at the stage of moving from a welfare state to a happiness state.

We have not yet completed the welfare state.

But citizens' demands have surpassed the welfare state.

We have entered the happiness state.

However, we fall far short of citizens' demands.

The Korea I dream of is a “first-class country where we prosper together.”

I will devote all my efforts to make it so.

Our future, which we will build together with the people, is as follows.

First, a prosperous country, a happiness state.

The economy must continue to grow centered on innovative growth.

Growth is important, but the quality of growth is more important.

I will prioritize protecting citizens' health, safety, and lives.

I will ensure all citizens can enjoy pleasant daily lives.

Especially, I will make culture, arts, and recreational sports easily accessible to everyone.

Second, a country where we live together, an inclusive state.

We will enhance welfare to become an inclusive state.

We will promptly expand social safety nets such as universal employment insurance.

We will raise incomes across all classes and reduce gaps.

We will realize gender equality and balanced development.

We will achieve national integration.

Third, a country good for startups, a startup nation.

I will make Korea a good country for startups.

I will transform it into a country where people can try again and again even after failure.

I will develop it into a country where failure becomes social capital.

Last year saw the highest-ever venture investment.

I will ensure the second venture boom leads to the third and fourth.

Fourth, a peaceful Korean Peninsula, a peace state.

I hope inter-Korean civilian exchanges and cooperation will be activated.

I propose resuming dialogue between North and South Korean authorities.

I hope trust is restored by gradually implementing inter-Korean agreements.

I want to establish a system to manage inter-Korean relations stably.

I propose launching a “Peaceful Unification Joint Conference” involving ruling and opposition parties, government, civil society, and economic organizations.

Fifth, a country contributing to the world, a contributing country.

The COVID-19 crisis has made Korea recognized as a contributing country globally.

Korea is a G20 member and a middle power in the international community.

Korea's status will rise further, and its role will grow.

I hope all sectors will work together for Korea's development.

Especially, I hope Korea exchanges and cooperates as good neighbors with all neighboring countries.

9. Hope, toward a better world

Dear citizens,

Lawmakers from both sides!

The Black Death in 14th-century Europe opened the Renaissance and modern states.

The 1920 Spanish flu advanced medicine and science.

Great disasters often bring major turns in human history.

The COVID-19 crisis will open the true 21st century.

First, we will win the war against COVID-19 and protect the lives of the people.

I will lead efforts for ruling and opposition parties to unite with the people in this task.

At the same time, we will prepare thoroughly for the post-COVID era in advance.

I will strive for South Korea to develop into a country happy together inside, achieving peace outside, and contributing to humanity.

I believe ruling and opposition parties can walk this path together with the people.

Hope is not something to be obtained but made through action.

To navigate the great transformation, we must create hope through action.

Solidarity and cooperation among the people, and win-win-win politics can create hope.

Soon, we will meet a new world.

I am confident that future will be better than now.

I will make such a future.

Let us walk that path together.

Thank you for listening.

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