[President Yoon's Inauguration] "Rebuilding a Nation Where the People Are the True Owners" (Full Inaugural Address)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 10th, President Yoon Suk-yeol promised at the inauguration ceremony of the 20th president held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "Based on the values of freedom, human rights, fairness, and solidarity, I will surely build a country where the people are the true owners, a country that fulfills its responsibilities and is respected in the international community, together with the great people."

The following is the full text of President Yoon Suk-yeol's inaugural address.

Respected and beloved citizens, 7.5 million overseas Koreans, and citizens of the world who love freedom,

I stand here today with the historic mission to rebuild this country based on liberal democracy and a market economy system, making it a country where the people are the true owners, and a country that fulfills its responsibilities and roles in the international community. I thank all the citizens who have joined this historic occasion. I also deeply thank former Presidents Moon Jae-in and Park Geun-hye, President Halimah Yacob of Singapore, President Faustin-Archange Touad?ra of the Central African Republic, Vice President Wang Qishan of China, former President Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia, Mr. Douglas Emhoff Harris, husband of the U.S. Vice President, George Furey, Speaker of the Canadian Senate, Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa of Japan, and the congratulatory envoys and distinguished guests from around the world. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the citizens who endured great suffering during the two years of overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. I also thank the medical staff who dedicated themselves.

Respected citizens,

citizens of the world, the world is currently facing complex challenges that no single country or a few countries alone can solve, such as the pandemic crisis, changes in trade order and supply chain restructuring, climate change, food and energy crises, and setbacks in the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Various crises are casting a dark shadow over human society. Moreover, many countries including ours are experiencing domestic ultra-low growth, massive unemployment, deepening polarization, and various social conflicts, shaking and disintegrating the cohesion of communities.

Meanwhile, politics, which must solve these problems, is failing to function properly due to the so-called crisis of democracy. The biggest cause is anti-intellectualism. For people with differing views to adjust and compromise, science and truth must be prerequisites. This is the rationalism and intellectualism that support democracy. Anti-intellectualism, which distorts the truth due to excessive collective conflicts between and within countries, selectively accepts only facts people want to see and hear, or suppresses opposing opinions by majority power, is putting democracy in crisis and undermining faith in democracy. This situation makes solving our problems even more difficult.

However, we can do it. Looking back at history, our people have faced many crises but have always overcome them wisely and courageously by uniting all citizens. I accept with gratitude the responsibility entrusted to me at this moment to overcome these crises, and I am confident that I can boldly navigate through them together with our great people. I also believe that by joining forces with citizens of the world, we can solve domestic and international crises and challenges.

Respected citizens, citizens of the world,

I believe it is very important that we share universal values to overcome these difficulties. That value is ‘freedom.’ We must properly and accurately recognize the value of freedom. We must rediscover the value of freedom. Looking back at human history, places where free political rights and free markets have thrived have always blossomed with prosperity and abundance. Prosperity, abundance, and economic growth are the expansion of freedom. Freedom is a universal value. All members of our society must become free citizens. If the freedom of any individual is neglected or violated, the freedom of all members of the community will be threatened. Freedom is never a winner-takes-all game. To become free citizens, a certain level of economic foundation and guaranteed access to fair education and culture must be ensured. Without these, one cannot be called a free citizen. If anyone’s freedom is violated or if the conditions necessary to become a free citizen are not met, all free citizens must stand in solidarity to help. Moreover, not only individual countries but also internationally, if freedom is infringed by illegal acts through public authority or military power, and a dignified life as a free citizen is not maintained, all citizens of the world must stand in solidarity as free citizens to help. For everyone to become free citizens, fair rules must be observed, and the spirit of solidarity and philanthropy must be embraced.

Respected citizens,

turning to domestic issues, I will speak about the direction I consider important. Our country’s excessive polarization and social conflicts not only threaten freedom and democracy but also hinder social development. I believe this problem is difficult to solve without achieving a leap forward and rapid growth. During rapid growth, many citizens can find new opportunities, and by enhancing social mobility, the root causes of polarization and conflicts can be eliminated. Leap forward and rapid growth can only be achieved through science, technology, and innovation. Science, technology, and innovation will protect our liberal democracy, expand our freedom, and sustain our dignified lives. Science, technology, and innovation are difficult to achieve by our country alone. We must cooperate and unite with many countries that have achieved scientific and technological progress and innovation by respecting freedom and creativity.

Respected citizens,

citizens of the world, liberal democracy creates peace, and peace protects freedom. Peace is guaranteed by solidarity with the international community that respects the values of freedom and human rights. We must pursue sustainable peace that fosters freedom and prosperity, not fragile peace that temporarily avoids war. No place in the world is free from threats to freedom and peace. The peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia is no exception. I will keep the door open for dialogue to peacefully resolve North Korea’s nuclear development, which threatens peace not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in Asia and the world. If North Korea halts nuclear development and transitions to genuine denuclearization, we will prepare a bold plan to cooperate with the international community to dramatically improve North Korea’s economy and the quality of life of its people. North Korea’s denuclearization will bring sustainable peace to the Korean Peninsula and greatly contribute to peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.

Dear and respected citizens,

we are now among the world’s top 10 economic powers. Therefore, we must adopt the stance of a global leader actively supporting and protecting universal international norms based on the values of freedom and human rights. We must play a more leading role in protecting and expanding the freedom and human rights of not only our country but also all citizens of the world. It is clear that the international community expects a greater role from the Republic of Korea. Currently, we cannot separate domestic issues from international issues. When we proactively fulfill the role expected by the international community, domestic issues can also find the right direction for resolution. Based on the values of freedom, human rights, fairness, and solidarity, I will surely build a country where the people are the true owners, a country that fulfills its responsibilities and is respected in the international community, together with the great people. Thank you.

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