Prime Minister Kim: "In the New Year, Overcome the COVID Crisis and Make It the First Year as a 'Truly Advanced Nation'"

2022 New Year's Address

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum Photo by Yonhap News

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on the 31st, "I am confident that 2022 will be the first year in which we completely overcome the COVID-19 crisis through inclusive recovery and move beyond the era of catching up to become a truly advanced nation."

In his New Year's address for 2022, Prime Minister Kim said, "Since the International Monetary Fund (IMF) foreign exchange crisis, our Republic of Korea has been enduring and overcoming the greatest crisis."

He continued, "To achieve this, we must create a turning point for a new era not only through outward appearances but also by our community members maturing as citizens who open a new era through the values of coexistence, inclusion, and mutual growth," emphasizing, "That is true recovery and leap forward."

Prime Minister Kim pledged, "The government will find that path together with the people and walk it together," adding, "We will do our utmost to restore our precious daily lives as soon as possible and open the future of our community." He also said, "We will do our best to ease the worries and anxieties of the people and create a good community that everyone achieves and shares together, a warm and beautiful Republic of Korea."

Prime Minister Kim evaluated, "Last year, which was the most difficult due to COVID-19, we overcame those difficulties and achieved the most brilliant results," adding, "We became the world's 10th largest economy and were proudly recognized as an advanced country in the international community. The status of the Republic of Korea as a cultural powerhouse has also been further elevated."

He expressed gratitude, saying, "I thank all the people who held out their hands to their neighbors despite many difficulties," and added, "In particular, I want to express my endless apologies and gratitude to the medical staff who are still dedicating themselves with their whole bodies on the front lines of quarantine and to small business owners and self-employed people who cooperated with quarantine measures despite difficult circumstances."

Furthermore, marking the Year of the Black Tiger (Im In-nyeon, 壬寅年), meaning 'Black Tiger,' he concluded his New Year's address by saying, "Let us move forward vigorously with the spirit of the Black Tiger," and "Let us endure a little more and create hope together. I wish health and happiness to all the people."

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