Remarks to the People Following the Oath of Office

 Remarks to the People Following the Oath of Office

Lee Jae-myung, the 21st President of the Republic of Korea

Dear fellow citizens,

I am Lee Jae-myung, your 21st President of the Republic of Korea, honored and humbled by the trust you have placed in me.

With profound gratitude and an immense sense of responsibility, I stand before you today.

Embracing the diverse hopes and aspirations of our 52 million citizens, I embark on this journey as your President, taking the first step toward a truly democratic republic.

The future beckons us.

It is time to revive our economy and ensure that every citizen can look forward to a better tomorrow.

We must restore security and peace, which have been undermined by partisan strife, and rebuild our economy and democracy, which have suffered from neglect and irresponsibility.

Let us bridge the divides of hatred and confrontation with coexistence, reconciliation, and solidarity, opening a new era of happiness for our people.

As author Han Kang once said, "The past aids the present, and the dead save the living."

Now, it is our turn to become the past that saves future generations.

I pledge to you:

I will respond to your solemn mandate to cultivate hope upon deep wounds and to build an entirely new nation.

Regardless of whom you supported in the election, I will be a President for all, embracing and serving every citizen.

Our nation continues to write a remarkable history.

We are the only country liberated from colonial rule that has achieved both industrialization and democratization, boasting the world's 10th-largest economy and the 5th-strongest military.

With K-culture leading global trends, we are now opening a new chapter in the history of democracy, where the power of the people can overcome military coups.

The world watches in awe as Korea's journey and the capabilities of its people unfold.

Our vibrant revolution, K-democracy, has become a model for those seeking new paths for democracy amid global challenges.

Dear citizens,

We stand at a pivotal moment of transformation.

As old orders fade, a new civilization emerges, driven by unprecedented advancements in science and technology.

The era of infinite competition in artificial intelligence has begun, and climate crises threaten humanity, pressuring industries to adapt.

Rapid changes in international order, such as protectionism and supply chain restructuring, pose threats to our survival.

We must not lag behind but lead these changes to seize boundless opportunities.

Yet, we face complex crises in every sector—livelihoods, economy, diplomacy, security, and democracy.

Our present and future are simultaneously at risk.

Rescuing the lives of our weary citizens and restoring democracy and peace will require immense effort, patience, and resilience.

Like roses blooming in June, seeking sunlight even in the shadows, our people have found direction amid chaos and despair.

Guided by the will of the sovereign people, I will forge ahead, overcoming mountains and thorns.

We will begin by revitalizing the economy and restoring livelihoods.

With a determination akin to facing a recession head-on, we will immediately activate an emergency economic response task force.

Using state finances as a catalyst, we will revive the virtuous cycle of the economy.

The newly inaugurated Democratic government under President Lee Jae-myung will be a government of just integration and flexible pragmatism.

Integration signifies competence, while division results from incompetence.

Only political forces lacking the will and ability to improve citizens' lives resort to dividing the people and sowing hatred to maintain power.

I will end divisive politics and overcome crises through national unity.

We will recover what has been lost—livelihoods, economy, security, peace, and democracy—and build a society of continuous growth and development.

A rebellion that uses state power to seize sovereignty from the people must never recur.

We will thoroughly investigate the truth, hold those responsible accountable, and establish firm measures to prevent recurrence.

Restoring communication and dialogue based on coexistence and integration, we will revive politics that embrace compromise and concession.

Let us consign outdated ideologies to the museum of history.

From now on, there are no issues of progress or conservatism—only the issues of the people and the nation.

Whether policies originated from Park Chung-hee or Kim Dae-jung, if they are necessary and beneficial, we will adopt them without distinction.

The Lee Jae-myung administration will be a pragmatic, market-oriented government.

Rather than controlling and managing, the government will support and encourage.

To ensure creative and proactive business activities, we will shift to a negative regulatory framework.

We will robustly support entrepreneurs to freely start businesses, grow, and compete globally.

However, we will not tolerate actions that threaten the lives and safety of citizens, infringe upon workers' rights, oppress the vulnerable, or disrupt market order through unfair practices like stock manipulation.

A nation where every citizen's basic living conditions are guaranteed, and where a robust social safety net enables bold challenges, is essential for innovation and new growth.

Both individuals and the nation must grow to share prosperity.

Through pragmatic, interest-based diplomacy, we will transform global economic and security challenges into opportunities to maximize national interests.

Strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance as a foundation, we will enhance Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation and approach relations with neighboring countries from a perspective of national interest and pragmatism.

Expanding our diplomatic horizons and elevating our international standing, we will broaden Korea's economic territory.

Respected citizens,

Our radiant revolution commands us to go beyond ending rebellion and to build a shining new nation.

We solemnly accept the people's mandate for a hopeful new country.

First, we will create a nation where the people are truly sovereign.

The Republic of Korea is a democratic republic, and sovereignty resides with its people.

We will communicate with citizens anytime, anywhere, ensuring that their sovereign will is reflected in governance, establishing a true democratic republic.

We will steadfastly pursue societal reforms gathered in the light-filled square.

Second, we will build a nation of robust growth and development.

As opportunities and resources become increasingly unequal, disparities and polarization hinder growth, creating a vicious cycle.

With fewer opportunities due to low growth, competition becomes a zero-sum game, leading to extreme conflicts.

In a society where falling behind equates to failure, and where divisive politics exacerbate inequality, extremism threatens social cohesion.

By fostering new growth engines and sharing opportunities and outcomes, fair growth will open the door to a better world.

Just as previous generations invested in education despite hardships, building today's Korea, our government will proactively prepare for the future through support and investment.

We will make significant investments in advanced technologies like AI and semiconductors, propelling Korea to become a leading industrial powerhouse.

In response to the global trend of addressing climate change, we will swiftly transition to a renewable energy-centered society.

Beyond enhancing corporate competitiveness by replacing energy imports and preparing for RE100, we will construct a comprehensive energy infrastructure, enabling renewable energy production nationwide, revitalizing regions facing extinction.

Third, we will build a nation where everyone prospers together.

Lacking natural resources, Korea achieved rapid growth by concentrating investments in specific regions, companies, and classes.

However, this unbalanced growth strategy has reached its limits, and inequality now impedes further development.

To sustain growth, we must transition to a balanced development strategy, fostering a fair society.

We will move beyond the concentration in the capital region, aiming for balanced national development.

By creating an industrial ecosystem where large, medium, small enterprises, and startups collaborate organically, and by eliminating privileges and special favors, we will build a fair society.

Sharing growth opportunities and outcomes is the path to sustainable development.

Fourth, we will become a nation that is safe and secure for everyone.

We will fundamentally reform the disaster and safety management system so that no one is left behind in times of crisis. From industrial sites to schools, homes, transportation, and digital spaces, we will thoroughly protect citizens' lives and safety.

We will restore public trust by rebuilding the rule of law and eliminating unfair privileges, corruption, and injustice.

We will actively protect human rights and establish a society where no one is discriminated against based on gender, disability, region, or class. A society is strong only when everyone, especially the vulnerable, is respected and protected.

We will ensure that national defense and security remain unshakable. We will firmly protect our sovereignty, territory, and national identity, and work towards peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula.

Through strong security and peace-oriented diplomacy, we will strive to make the Korean Peninsula a region of stability and cooperation, not tension and confrontation.

Fifth, we will be a nation where the future generation can dream.

We must break the chain where the social and economic status of parents determines the fate of their children. We will guarantee equal opportunities and create a society where effort is rewarded and dreams can come true.

We will invest boldly in education, child-rearing, and youth, ensuring that the next generation can unleash their full potential.

We will also actively respond to the declining birth rate and aging population. By building a society where young people do not fear marriage and childbirth, and where the elderly can live in dignity, we will prepare for Korea’s future sustainability.

Dear fellow citizens,

A new era begins today—not with the power of one person, but by the sovereign will of 52 million citizens.

Though I stand here alone, behind me stand the dreams and hopes of countless citizens. With that support, I will never falter or turn away.

I will be a President who works tirelessly, who listens with humility, who makes decisions with courage, and who puts the people first above all else.

Now, I ask each and every citizen:

Let us walk together. Let us rebuild the nation, side by side.

Let us restore democracy, revive the economy, heal the pain, and open a future where everyone lives well together.

If we walk together, there is nothing we cannot overcome.

Together with the people, I will move forward, unwavering.

Thank you.