President Moon Apologizes for Turbulent Political Situation... First Apology for 'Choo-Yoon Incident' (Update)

Opening Remarks at the Cheong Senior Secretary and Secretary Meeting

President Moon Jae-in is reviewing documents before speaking at the Senior Secretary and Aide Meeting held at the Blue House on the 7th. 2020.12.7
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] President Moon Jae-in apologized on the 7th, saying, "At a time when everyone should unite their hearts for quarantine and people's livelihood, the chaotic political situation is causing concern to the people, and as president, I feel very sorry." This is the first time President Moon has directly apologized regarding the so-called 'Choo-Yoon incident.'

On the same day, President Moon presided over a senior secretaries and advisors meeting at the Blue House and said in his opening remarks, "I earnestly hope that the current confusion will not last long and will be the final labor pains for democracy and reform." He added, "If the problems are resolved through democratic procedures and processes, our democracy will become stronger."

President Moon stated, "Reforming the power institutions remains one of the biggest tasks left," and said, "In my inaugural speech, I promised the people that power institutions would be completely independent from politics and that checks and balances would be established so that no institution could wield absolute power. It is my will to ensure that power institutions do not dominate over the people as in the past." He also evaluated, "Based on the constitutional spirit that 'all power comes from the people,' our government has persevered unwaveringly in reforming power institutions despite many trials and tribulations."

He further said, "Our government has aimed not to postpone this task to the next administration regardless of any difficulties," and "Now, we have reached the final stage of bearing the fruits of that effort." The 'final stage' mentioned by President Moon appears to refer to the passage of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HOCI) Act in the National Assembly.

President Moon emphasized, "In this regular session of the National Assembly, we have finally encountered an opportunity to complete the institutional reform of power institutions," calling it "a historic moment opening a new chapter in Korean democracy." He continued, "According to the principle of checks and balances, I hope that reform legislation dispersing the powers of power institutions such as the National Intelligence Service, prosecution, and police, enabling them to be reborn as institutions of the people, will surely pass, and that the HOCI will be launched."

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