[Full Text] Yoon: "Threats to Freedom and Peace Must Be Protected Through International Solidarity... Korea Will Fulfill Its Responsibilities with the UN"

President Yoon Delivers Keynote Speech on "Freedom and Solidarity: Seeking Solutions in Times of Transition" at the 77th UN General Assembly

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized on the 20th (local time) at the United Nations General Assembly held in New York, USA, that "when the freedom of any global citizen or nation is threatened in the international community, the international community must unite in solidarity to protect that freedom." In this regard, President Yoon declared, "The Republic of Korea will fulfill its responsibilities together with the UN to protect and expand the freedom of global citizens, as well as for peace and prosperity."

President Yoon made these remarks during his keynote speech at the 77th UN General Assembly held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in the afternoon, under the theme "Freedom and Solidarity: Answers to the Watershed Moment."

President Yoon stated, "Today, the international community is once again facing threats to the freedom and peace of global citizens due to changes in the status quo by force, weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons, and collective violations of human rights," adding, "These threats must be overcome by strongly supporting and uniting around the universal international normative system that the UN and the international community have accumulated over time."

Below is the full text of President Yoon's keynote speech.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Freedom and Solidarity: Answers to the Watershed Moment

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, distinguished representatives of member states,

Congratulations on the inauguration of Csaba K?r?si as the President of the General Assembly.

Under your leadership, I hope this 77th UN General Assembly will serve as an opportunity to gather the wisdom of member states toward a better world.

I especially pay tribute to the dedication and efforts of Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres, who has begun his second term this year.

The UN Charter proclaims the promotion of social progress and improvement of living standards through greater freedom. It also calls for humanity's solidarity to maintain international peace and security.

Just as members of a community unite to eliminate threats and protect freedom when the freedom of any individual within a nation is threatened, the international community must unite in solidarity to protect the freedom of any global citizen or nation when it is threatened.

Our modern history shows the process of uniting in solidarity and combining strength to protect freedom and achieve civilizational progress.

Today, the international community is once again facing threats to the freedom and peace of global citizens due to changes in the status quo by force, weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons, and collective violations of human rights.

These threats to freedom and peace must be overcome by strongly supporting and uniting around the universal international normative system that the UN and the international community have accumulated over time. The theme of this UN General Assembly, "Watershed Moment," reflects the seriousness of the global crises we face and underscores the UN's role as more important than ever.

The starting point for overcoming the crises we face and seeking solutions is to respect and unite around the universally accepted and accumulated international normative system and the UN system.

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, distinguished representatives,

The role of the UN is very important for humanity to approach true freedom and peace.

True freedom is not only about escaping bondage but also having the opportunity to realize oneself as a human being. True peace is not merely the absence of war but resolving conflicts and antagonisms that hinder humanity's common prosperity and establishing a foundation for greater prosperity.

True freedom and peace can be realized through freedom from disease and hunger, freedom from illiteracy, and freedom from deficiencies in energy and culture.

The UN has made many efforts to solve these problems through bodies such as the UN Economic and Social Council and UNESCO, but now it is required to take on broader roles and responsibilities.

To resolve the pandemic issue, international cooperation centered on the UN must provide more bold support to countries with insufficient financial conditions and technological capabilities.

In pursuing the global challenge of decarbonization, leading countries in green technology should strive to share renewable energy technologies with more countries and provide generous support.

Especially in the era of deepening digitalization, the digital divide exacerbates polarization between countries, making international cooperation centered on the UN a very important task.

Leading countries in digital technology must provide more support for digital education, technology transfer, and investment in developing countries, and the UN must double its efforts to lead this.

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, distinguished representatives,

Despite recent fiscal tightening, the Republic of Korea has increased support for socially vulnerable groups and the ODA budget through expenditure restructuring.

Just as expanding support for socially vulnerable groups forms the foundation for sustainable prosperity, support for countries in difficulty in the international community will make global freedom and peace sustainable.

The Republic of Korea will fulfill its responsibilities and roles as a responsible member of the international community for the freedom of global citizens and the prosperity of the international community.

The Republic of Korea is accelerating research and development of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, while expanding contributions to strengthen the global health system, including pledging $300 million to the ACT-A initiative and $30 million to the World Bank's Financial Intermediary Fund.

It is also participating in negotiations for the WHO pandemic treaty and will host the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) ministerial meeting in Seoul this November to respond to future infectious diseases.

Furthermore, the Republic of Korea has decided to significantly increase its contribution to the Global Fund to actively participate in solving the common human challenge of global infectious disease response.

Regarding climate change, the Republic of Korea will expand green ODA, assist developing countries in low-carbon energy transitions, and strive to share innovative green technologies with all humanity.

The Republic of Korea has long transferred and shared e-government digital technologies with many countries, including developing countries.

Currently, the Republic of Korea is promoting the Digital Platform Government, a grand attempt to revolutionize democracy, administrative services, and welfare services through digital technology.

We will continue to share these digital technologies and data more widely and spare no effort in support and educational investment.

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, distinguished representatives,

The question of whether the UN system and the universal international normative system are truly useful as solutions to the global crises we face is now on the test bench.

However, the crisis we currently face can be resolved through a firm spirit of solidarity, sharing the universal value of freedom and working together to protect and expand freedom.

Therefore, the UN system and the universally recognized normative system in the international community based on the spirit of freedom and solidarity must be more strongly supported.

If we turn our backs on and abandon the UN system and universal normative system, the international community will become fragmented, and the crises and chaos will worsen.

We must think more intensely about the essence and causes of the problems we face, and the international community must more strongly implement efforts to share roles and unite strength to solve them.

As a solution to this transitional crisis, I once again appeal to global citizens and international leaders for confident support of the UN system and the universal international normative system.

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, distinguished representatives,

Looking back, the first meaningful mission for world peace after the founding of the UN was to recognize the Republic of Korea as the sole legitimate government on the Korean Peninsula and dispatch UN forces to protect Korea's freedom.

Thanks to these efforts by the UN, the Republic of Korea has been able to grow as it has. Therefore, the Republic of Korea will fulfill its responsibilities together with the UN to protect and expand the freedom of global citizens, as well as for peace and prosperity.

Thank you.

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