[Full Text] Lee Nak-yeon: "We Will Restore the Wounded Fairness... Politics, Economy, and Diplomacy All Back on Track"

On the 5th, Lee Nak-yeon, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, officially announced his candidacy for next year's presidential election, stating, "I will restore the wounded fairness and create a country that protects my life." He was the last among the eight ruling party presidential candidates to declare his run.

Below is the full text of former leader Lee's declaration of candidacy.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Hello,

My name is Lee Nak-yeon.

Some of you may not know me.

Allow me to introduce myself.

In my youth, I worked as a newspaper reporter.

After that, I served as a member of the National Assembly, governor, Prime Minister, and then returned to the National Assembly.

And today, I stand here to announce that I will run for president.

Respected citizens,

COVID-19 is a war without a declaration.

We have fought diligently and fiercely.

However, the wounds have deepened and widened.

Self-employed people have been further burdened.

Workers and farmers alike are struggling.

The threshold for youth employment remains high.

It is regrettable and I feel sorry.

We must care more warmly for these struggling citizens.

I will take on that task.

Social disparities are widening.

The poor have become poorer,

and the lonely have become lonelier.

Even before, inequality was growing,

but it has increased further due to COVID-19.

Many, including the youth,

protest against the unfairness of the world.

Alleviating inequality

is urgent.

We must restore

the wounded fairness.

I will take on that task.

We live in an era of anxiety.

Many people

feel insecure about their lives.

Youth, middle-aged, and elderly alike

are anxious.

The factors threatening life

have increased tremendously.

The state must protect

each and every citizen's life

from all these threats.

We must become a country

that protects my life.

I will take on that task.

Nevertheless, we are

progressing toward overcoming COVID-19.

I feel that the recovery of daily life

is not far away.

You may remember this photo.

It is a scene from the G7 summit.

When asked which country responded best to COVID-19,

the advanced country leaders

pointed to President Moon Jae-in.

The world recognized

South Korea's crisis management capability.

Our pride

is not only semiconductors or K-pop.

The world applauded

the dedication of our medical staff

and the cooperation of our citizens.

South Korea has “such citizens.”

Thank you, citizens.

We must nurture

the capabilities of each citizen

and cultivate South Korea into a more proud

nation.

South Korea's leaders

must earn the world's respect

and trust.

I will take on that task.

I have served under

three presidents of our Democratic Party.

Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in

were my teachers.

I learned politics from them,

and mastered policy.

I also came to understand

the problems of politics and policy.

While firmly inheriting good philosophies,

we must clearly correct the problems.

I will take on that task.

To create a country that protects my life,

a proud

Republic of Korea,

what should we do?

Today, I will first present

five major visions.

First is New Welfare.

Since the Kim Dae-jung administration,

we have actively pursued welfare.

We have made progress in many areas.

However, there are still citizens

who cannot maintain a minimum standard of living

as human beings.

We must first ensure that no such citizens exist.

Everyone must be guaranteed a minimum

standard of living as a human being.

That is the starting point of New Welfare.

It is not only about income.

The state will take responsibility

to guarantee minimum living standards

in housing, labor, education, healthcare, care services, culture,

and environment.

By 2030, we will aim for all citizens

to live at the current middle-class level

step by step.

Especially, we will ensure that children receive adequate

care.

That benefits children, parents, and increases youth employment.

Basement rooms, rooftop rooms, and goshiwon are called “Jihok-go.”

One in three young people living in Seoul

live in Jihok-go.

We will first eliminate Jihok-go.

I will continue to present the contents of New Welfare.

Second is the Middle-Class Economy.

Ten years ago, 65% of our citizens were middle class.

Now it has decreased to 57%.

We will increase it to 70%.

When the middle class thins,

inequality grows.

Society becomes vulnerable to crises.

When the middle class is strong,

inequality is alleviated.

Society becomes resilient to crises.

To strengthen the middle class, good

jobs must increase.

To that end, we will vigorously foster advanced technology sectors

such as IT, bio, future cars,

and AI.

We will also activate green industries

that protect the Earth.

We will make the Earth cooler and society warmer,

providing meaningful work for the youth.

We will expand social services such as care.

We must prevent the inheritance of gold spoons and dirt spoons.

Social mobility must become more active.

Jobs, taxation, and welfare will play that role.

Third is Constitutional Amendment

to change the framework of the nation.

Politics has not protected my life so far.

Now it must develop into politics

that protects my life.

To protect my life,

we will amend the constitution to strengthen

socioeconomic democracy.

We must newly establish rights to life, safety, and housing

in the constitution.

The concept of public land ownership must be clarified

to prevent the rich from monopolizing unearned income.

We must share more of the profits from land

and reduce social inequality.

The pursuit of happiness, balanced development,

people's sovereignty, equal opportunity, and equality

mentioned in the constitution

must not remain pale ideas but

must come alive.

Especially, I want to establish a firm constitutional basis

to vigorously promote balanced development

between the metropolitan area and provinces.

Fourth is Soft Power Nation and New Diplomacy.

The world has entered an era of soft power.

Economy and culture have become more important

than military force and territory.

South Korea must leap forward as a soft power nation.

Our economy and culture will support this.

Based on this, we will pursue new diplomacy as a soft power nation.

Global investors in the U.S.

say the Korean Peninsula is the “ultimate best investment destination.”

This is said on the premise of peace and

unification.

We must institutionalize peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The North Korean nuclear issue can be resolved

through a comprehensive agreement and phased implementation framework.

Korea must play a more leading role in this.

We will continue and develop

the peace diplomacy of Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in

to suit the times.

We will strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance and

the strategic cooperative partnership with China,

enhance mutual trust, and open paths for maximum

cooperation with Japan and Russia.

The U.S. and China are like two giant whales.

Our diplomacy, positioned between them,

must be wise, agile, and sophisticated like a dolphin.

We will expand mutually beneficial cooperation

with all countries worldwide.

South Korea's global status

has risen to G10 level.

In per capita income,

we have surpassed a G7 country.

Now we can dream of joining the G5.

We must fulfill roles and responsibilities befitting that status.

As Prime Minister, I visited 25 countries

and held talks with top leaders.

I can conduct diplomacy

that meets our elevated national dignity.

Fifth is the Dream of a Cultural Power.

We are the country of BTS.

BTS tickets have become unforgettable birthday gifts for a British boy.

A German girl learned Korean

and sang on a German audition program.

In LA, young Americans lined up overnight

to see a BTS concert.

Moreover, we are the country of Bong Joon-ho

and Youn Yuh-jung.

The dream of Baekbeom Kim Gu

is coming true.

Culture and arts

become more creative and beautiful

the less they are interfered with.

We will thoroughly leave culture and arts

to their markets.

The government will keep its mouth shut

and only open its wallet.

That is what I will do.

Respected citizens,

today I have spoken

to seek your choice.

I earnestly ask

that you accept my sincerity

and choose me.

To win your hearts,

I know well that

I must first keep my promises.

In one phrase, my promise is

to restore everything to its rightful place.

I will do so.

Through COVID-19,

we realized

that ordinary daily life

is precious.

Classrooms where we gather

to take lessons.

Companies where we debate

with spit flying.

Pubs where we have a drink with friends.

Such ordinary scenes

must become ordinary again.

There is a song that goes,

“Among the scenes of the world,

the most beautiful scene is

everything returning

to its rightful place.”

Whether it is COVID-19, politics,

economy, welfare, or diplomacy,

everything must return to its rightful place

to make a beautiful world.

I will do my best

to bring that day closer.

Thank you for listening to the long story

of a humble person.

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