[Korea] Yoon Seok - you's inauguration speech to democracy and liberalism [full text]

Photo by Republic of Korea (licensed under CC0 1.0)

New Presidential Speech on May 10

Respected and dear people,

7.5 million overseas compatriots,

And to all the world citizens who love freedom

I am here today with an epoch-making vocation that must rebuild this country as a country where the people are the true masters on the basis of liberal democracy and the market economy system, and make it a country that plays a role and responsibility in the international community. I stood up.

We would like to thank all the people who have been with us in the historical setting.

Tora Wen, Former President Park Megumi, President Jacob of Singapore, President of the Central African Republic of Tuadera, Vice President of China Wang Qishan, Former President of Indonesia Megawati, Vice President Harris Emhoff Harris, Senator George Fury of Canada, We would like to express our deep gratitude to Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and other congratulatory missions from around the world and to all the guests from Japan and abroad.

We would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the people who have endured great pain in the process of overcoming the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection for the past two years.

We would also like to thank all the medical staff for their dedication.

Respected people,

World citizens

Now, the whole world is one country alone or only a few countries participating, such as the pandemic crisis, changes in trade order and restructuring of supply networks, climate change, food and energy crisis, and retreat of peaceful resolution of conflicts. Faced with difficult challenges.

Various crises cast a complex shadow on human society.

In addition, many countries, including South Korea, are swaying and breaking down the cohesiveness of their communities due to ultra-low growth, large-scale unemployment, deepening polarization and diverse social conflicts.

On the other hand, politics that must solve such problems are failing to function due to the so-called democratic crisis.

Anti-intellectualism is cited as the biggest cause.

Science and truth must be a prerequisite for people with different views to coordinate and compromise with each other.

That is rationalism and intellectualism that support democracy.

Excessive collective conflict between nations and within nations distorts the truth, and anti-intellectualism, which selects only the facts that each person wants to see and hear and suppresses the opinions of others with a large number of forces, puts democracy in jeopardy and democracy. It undermines trust in the principle.

This situation makes it even more difficult to solve the problems we are facing.

But we can.

Looking back on history, the Korean people are on the verge of many crises, but each time they have worked together to overcome them wisely and courageously.

At this moment, I am grateful to be given the responsibility to overcome such a crisis and I am confident that we can overcome it proudly with our great people.

We also believe that we can work together with the world's citizens to resolve crises and challenges at home and abroad.

Respected people,

World citizens

I think it is very important for us to share universal values ??in order to solve this difficulty.

It is "freedom".

We must recognize the value of freedom correctly and accurately.

We must rediscover the value of freedom.

Looking back on the history of mankind, where free political rights and free markets were alive, prosperity and affluence always flourished.

Prosperity, affluence and economic growth are the expansion of freedom.

Freedom is a universal value.

All members of our society must be free citizens.

If the freedom of an individual is left unattended, the freedom of all of us members of the community will be threatened.

Freedom is by no means a winner's monopoly.

To be a free citizen, one must ensure a certain level of economic foundation, fair education and access to culture.

You cannot be a free citizen without this.

If one's freedom is not overrun or the conditions necessary to become a free citizen are not met, all free citizens must help in solidarity.

And if individual liberty is violated not only by individual nations but also internationally by hunger and poverty, illegal acts by public authority and military power, and a dignified life as a free citizen is not maintained, all world citizens will be free citizens. We must work together as a helper.

In order for everyone to be a free citizen, we must obey fair rules and have a spirit of solidarity and philanthropy.

Respected people,

I would like to talk about the direction that I consider important by looking at domestic issues.

In South Korea, excessive polarization and social conflict not only threaten freedom and democracy, but also hinder social development.

I don't think this problem can be solved without a leap and fast growth.

In the process of rapid growth, many people can find new opportunities and improve social mobility to eliminate the source of polarization and conflict.

Leap and fast growth can only be achieved through science, technology and innovation.

Science, technology and innovation protect our liberal democracy, expand our freedom and make our dignified life sustainable.

Science, technology, and innovation are difficult to achieve with the efforts of Japan alone.

By respecting freedom and creativity, we must work and solidarity with many countries that have achieved advances and innovations in science and technology.

Respected people,

World citizens

Liberal democracy creates peace, and peace protects freedom.

And peace is guaranteed by solidarity with the international community, which respects the values ??of freedom and human rights.

We must pursue sustainable peace that blossoms freedom and prosperity, not fragile peace that temporarily avoids war.

Nowhere in the world is free from the threat of freedom and peac