President Moon: "True freedom is freedom shared with neighbors... Proven through quarantine and vaccination" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in pointed out the conflict between quarantine measures and vaccination with individual freedom, emphasizing "freedom for all" and "freedom enjoyed together with neighbors."

On the 10th, during a virtual speech released on the second day of the 'Democracy Summit' led by President Joe Biden, President Moon stated, "Korea aims to prove that freedom enjoyed together with neighbors is true freedom through quarantine, vaccination, and the restoration of daily life."

President Moon said, "We see the conflict between quarantine or vaccination and individual freedom happening all over the world," adding, "Fake news spreading rapidly through new forms of online media and social networking services (SNS) is spreading hatred, populism, and extremism, even encouraging refusal of vaccination, but we have not found appropriate measures to restrain it. This is because it may conflict with the democratic belief in freedom of expression."

He continued, "The growing gap and polarization caused by free competition block social integration and threaten democracy," mentioning the reality where freedom, a characteristic of democracy, is threatening democracy from within.

President Moon emphasized, "In the face of serious challenges such as infectious diseases, the climate crisis, globalization, and polarization, it is time to think together about how to protect and advance democracy and seek solutions," stressing that individual freedom and freedom of expression must be firmly guaranteed while harmonizing with "freedom for all."

He also stated, "While guaranteeing freedom of expression, we must develop the capacity for self-purification to protect democracy from fake news," and pledged, "We will work together to promote the independence of the global press."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the plenary session of the 'Democracy Summit' held the previous day, President Moon also emphasized, "'Individual freedom' must expand to 'freedom for all,'" adding, "This should not be a restriction on freedom but a democratic advancement for being safe and free together."

President Moon said, "Even if fake news obscures the truth, incites hatred and animosity, and even obstructs quarantine and vaccination, democratic institutions are helpless," and added, "The international community must come together to find wisdom on how to develop self-purification capacity against fake news that undermines public trust and fosters distrust, hatred, animosity, and extremism without infringing on the essence of freedom of expression."

He noted, "It is time for serious discussions on how to protect democracy from enemies that destroy it," citing authoritarianism, populism, extremism, and fake news as major obstacles.

He also pointed out, "Corruption undermines social transparency and destroys trust in fairness, sickening the roots of democracy," identifying corruption as one of democracy's greatest enemies. In this regard, he mentioned Korea's achievements related to anti-corruption and transparency and pledged to share this experience with the international community.

Meanwhile, although there were speculations that President Moon might deliver messages related to China at this summit, which strongly leans toward checking China and Russia, China was not directly mentioned in his speech.

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