[비즈한국] Lee Jae-myung has been inaugurated as the 21st President of the Republic of Korea. President Lee began his official term at 6:21 a.m. on the 4th with a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, followed by his oath of office at the National Assembly Rotunda Hall at 11 a.m. Immediately after taking the oath, President Lee stated in his address to the nation, “Following the deeper meaning of the presidency—to foster grand integration regardless of whom you supported in this election—I will become a ‘President for all,’ embracing and serving every citizen.”
President Lee declared, “The Lee Jae-myung administration will be a ‘pragmatic market-oriented government,’” adding, “We will start by restoring people’s livelihoods and reviving the economy.” He further stated, “The newly launched Democratic Party government under Lee Jae-myung will be a righteous government of integration and a flexible, pragmatic government,” and vowed to “become a president who ends the politics of division.”
He also pledged accountability and the prevention of any recurrence regarding the martial law situation. President Lee emphasized, “We will recover what was destroyed and lost through the insurrection—livelihoods, economy, security, peace, and democracy—and build a society that grows and develops sustainably,” adding, “An insurrection that usurps national sovereignty using the guns and swords entrusted by the people must never happen again. We will ensure accountability through a thorough investigation and establish firm measures to prevent recurrence.”
Regarding immediate diplomatic and security issues, he said, “Through pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interest, we will turn the crisis of the great transformation in the global economic and security environment into an opportunity to maximize national interest,” and added, “Building on the firm ROK-U.S. alliance, we will strengthen trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, and approach relations with neighboring countries from the perspective of national interest and pragmatism.”
President Lee pledged, “Beyond small differences, let us acknowledge and respect each other and march together toward a nation where the people are the owners, a nation where the people are happy, and a truly great Republic of Korea,” concluding, “I will faithfully fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to the 21st President.”
This election was an early presidential election, meaning the president’s term began immediately without a transition committee. The inauguration ceremony was simplified to just the oath of office and the inaugural address, with no separate events. Previously, the 19th President, Moon Jae-in, also replaced the inauguration ceremony with an oath of office following an early election caused by the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.
The following is the full text of President Lee Jae-myung’s "Address to the Nation."
Respected and beloved fellow citizens,
I am Lee Jae-myung, the 21st President of the Republic of Korea, whom you have chosen.
I greet you.
I stand here with a sense of boundless responsibility and profound gratitude.
Carrying the 52 million aspirations and hopes sent by our 52 million citizens,
Starting today, as the 21st President of the Republic of Korea,
I take my first step toward a true democratic republic of Korea.
The future is beckoning to us.
It is time to revive the livelihoods of the people pushed to the brink,
And to restore growth to build a tomorrow where everyone is happy.
It is time to lift up again the security and peace that were relegated to tools for political strife,
The livelihoods and economy that collapsed due to indifference, incompetence, and irresponsibility,
And the democracy that was destroyed by armored vehicles and automatic rifles.
It is time to build bridges of coexistence, reconciliation, and solidarity
Over the hatred and confrontation that divided us,
And to open wide the era of happiness for the people, overflowing with dreams and hope.
As author Han Kang said,
"The past helped the present, and the dead saved the living."
Now, it is our turn
To become the past of the future and save the descendants of tomorrow.
I promise the people.
I will respond to the solemn mandate to let hope bloom over deep and large wounds,
And to the earnest desire to build an entirely new country.
Regardless of whom you supported in this election,
Following the deeper meaning of the presidency to foster grand integration,
I will become a ‘President for all,’ embracing and serving every citizen.
The Republic of Korea is writing new history again today.
Among nations liberated from colonialism,
The only country to successfully achieve both industrialization and democratization,
Boasting the world’s 10th-largest economy and 5th-strongest military,
A nation leading world culture through K-Culture.
This proud country in the East is now
Opening a new chapter in the history of world democracy
By suppressing a military coup by the highest authority with nothing but light sticks in hand.
The whole world is watching this great journey of the Republic of Korea
And the great capability of the Korean people
With wonder.
The Five-Color Revolution, K-Democracy,
Has become a clear model for people around the world seeking new breakthroughs for democracy in crisis.
My beloved fellow citizens,
We are standing at a crossroads of great transformation.
The old order is receding, and a new order—a civilizational shift—is underway.
An era of ultra-scientific technology that we have never experienced before,
An era of infinite competition in Artificial Intelligence where pages turn in the blink of an eye
Has begun.
The climate crisis is threatening humanity and pressuring a great industrial shift.
Rapid changes in the international order, such as the expansion of protectionism and supply chain reorganization,
Threaten our very survival.
If we do not lag behind and get dragged by change,
But lead it, we can enjoy infinite opportunities.
However, unfortunately,
At this critical juncture, we face
A complex crisis piled layer upon layer like a tangled thread
In all areas: livelihoods, economy, diplomacy, security, and democracy.
The present and future of the Republic of Korea are being threatened simultaneously.
Saving the lives of weary citizens, restoring democracy and peace,
Recovering growth, and rectifying our collapsed national prestige
Will require sweat, tears, and patience beyond estimation.
However, just like a June rose
That insists on finding the sun and blooming even beneath a shaded wall,
Our people have found the direction forward even in the midst of chaos and despair.
With the will of the sovereign people as my compass,
I will forge ahead, even if it means crossing high mountains and navigating thorny thickets.
I will start by restoring livelihoods and reviving the economy.
With the resolve of engaging in a battle against recession, I will immediately activate an Emergency Economic Response TF.
I will use national finances as a pump to revive the virtuous cycle of the economy.
The newly launched Democratic Party government, the Lee Jae-myung administration,
Will be a righteous government of integration and a flexible, pragmatic government.
Integration is a sign of competence, and division is the result of incompetence.
Only political forces that lack the ability or will to change the lives of the people
Divide the people and plant hatred to maintain power.
I will be a president who ends the politics of division.
I will overcome crises with national integration as the driving force.
I will recover what was destroyed and lost through the insurrection—
Livelihoods, economy, security, peace, and democracy—
And build a society that grows and develops sustainably.
An insurrection that usurps national sovereignty using the guns and swords entrusted by the people
Must never happen again.
I will ensure accountability through thorough investigation
And establish firm measures to prevent recurrence.
On the values of coexistence and integration, I will restore communication and dialogue,
And revive the politics of concession and compromise.
Let us send old ideologies to the museum of history.
From now on, there are no "progressive" issues.
From now on, there are no "conservative" issues.
There are only the problems of the people and the problems of the Republic of Korea.
Park Chung-hee’s policies or Kim Dae-jung’s policies,
If they are necessary and useful, I will use them without distinction.
The Lee Jae-myung administration will be a pragmatic, market-oriented government.
We will not be a government that controls and manages,
But a government that supports and encourages.
To ensure creative and active business activities,
I will shift regulations toward a negative system.
I will firmly support entrepreneurs so they can freely start businesses, grow,
And compete in the global market.
Threatening people’s lives, safety, and the legitimate rights of workers,
Unjustly oppressing the weak,
Or threatening market order through unfair practices like stock manipulation—
Profiting by breaking the rules
And causing damage by following them will never be permitted.
Innovation and new growth are only possible in a country where
Basic living conditions for all citizens are guaranteed
And dangerous challenges are possible through a thick social safety net.
Both individuals and the nation must grow to be able to share.
Through pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interest,
I will turn the crisis of the great transformation
In the global economic and security environment
Into an opportunity to maximize national interest.
Based on a firm ROK-U.S. alliance, I will strengthen trilateral cooperation,
And approach relations with neighboring countries from the perspective of national interest and pragmatism.
I will broaden the horizons of diplomacy, enhance our international standing,
And expand the economic territory of the Republic of Korea.
Respected fellow citizens,
The great revolution of light commands us to go beyond ending the insurrection and build a shining new country.
I will solemnly uphold the people’s mandate for a new country of hope.
First, I will build a nation where the people are truly the owners.
The Republic of Korea is a democratic republic, and sovereignty resides in the Korean people.
Communicating with the people anytime and anywhere,
I will build a true democratic republic
Where the sovereign will of the people is routinely reflected in state affairs.
I will unwaveringly pursue the tasks of social reform gathered in the plaza of light.
Second, I will build a nation that grows and develops vigorously again.
Inequality of opportunity and resources is deepening,
And a vicious cycle where gaps and polarization hinder growth is continuing.
As low growth reduces opportunities,
Instead of competition where we live together,
Only a war where "if you die, I live" remains.
Young people pushed to the limit of extreme competition are even dividing by gender to fight.
An unequal society where falling behind in competition means death
Has met divisive politics, birthing extremism that threatens social survival.
Creating new growth engines and "fair growth" that shares the opportunities and results of growth will open the door to a better world.
Just as the efforts of the parent generation, who sold their fields to educate their children even while poor, created today’s Republic of Korea,
The government will step up to prepare for, support, and invest in the coming future.
Through massive investment and support in cutting-edge technology industries like AI and semiconductors,
I will make us leap forward into an industrial powerhouse that leads the future.
In accordance with the global trend of climate crisis response,
I will swiftly transition to a society centered on renewable energy.
In addition to strengthening corporate competitiveness through energy import substitution and RE100 preparedness,
I will build a dense "Energy Highway" to enable renewable energy production anywhere in the country, revitalizing local regions facing extinction.
Third, I will build a nation where everyone lives well together.
The Republic of Korea, which lacked resources,
Achieved compressed growth into the world’s 10th-largest economy through an unbalanced development strategy
That invested heavily in specific regions, companies, and classes.
However, now,
That unbalanced growth strategy has reached its limits,
And polarization caused by inequality is hindering growth.
Now, for sustainable growth,
We must carry out a great transformation of our growth and development strategy.
We must move toward balanced development, fair growth, and a fair society.
We must move away from concentration in the capital region and aim for balanced national land development,
Create an industrial ecosystem where large, medium, small, and venture companies and startups cooperate organically,
And transition into a fair society where privileged status and favoritism have disappeared.
Sharing the opportunities and fruits of growth evenly is the path to sustainable growth.
Just as growth and distribution are not contradictory but complementary,
Corporate development and respect for labor can fully coexist.
Fourth, I will build a nation where culture blossoms.
“The only thing I truly desire to possess infinitely is the power of high culture.”
The dream of Baekbeom Kim Koo is now becoming a reality.
From K-pop to K-drama, K-movie, K-beauty, and K-food,
Korean culture is captivating the world.
Culture is economy, and culture is international competitiveness.
We must connect the international craze for Korean culture
To the development of the cultural industry and good jobs.
I will grow the cultural industry of the Republic of Korea even larger.
Through active support for culture and arts,
I will make us a cultural powerhouse that rewrites global standards for content,
And leap forward into one of the top 5 global soft power nations.
Fifth, I will build a safe and peaceful nation.
Safety and peace are the grand prerequisites for the happiness of the people.
Safety is bread, and peace is economy.
I will clearly investigate the truth behind social tragedies such as the Sewol ferry, the Itaewon disaster, and the Osong underpass disaster,
And build a safe society where the people’s lives and property are not threatened.
I will heal the wounds of division and war and design a future of peace and prosperity.
Even the most expensive peace is better than war.
It is better to win without fighting than to fight and win,
And peace where there is no need to fight is the most certain security.
With a defense budget amounting to twice North Korea’s GDP and the world’s 5th-strongest military,
Along with a strong deterrent based on the ROK-U.S. military alliance,
I will prepare for North Korean nuclear weapons and military provocations,
But also open channels of communication with North Korea and build peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and cooperation.
I will restore the military’s honor and public trust, which were marred by illegal martial law,
And ensure that the military is never mobilized for politics again.
My beloved and respected fellow citizens,
Even through numerous life-and-death crises,
I have held onto my faith in the people
And have come this far following the path the people led me on.
Now, I will follow the mission entrusted by the people to find hope.
Our people have been strong when we are one,
And whenever the people have united, we have overcome any adversity.
We stood up to Japanese oppression with the March 1st Independence Movement
And established the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea,
And achieved industrialization that surprised the world on the ruins of war and the pain of division.
We achieved democracy by standing up to harsh dictatorship,
And reclaimed national sovereignty through two beautiful, bloodless revolutions unprecedented in world history.
With this great capability of our people, there is no crisis we cannot overcome.
A nation that leads the world with the power of high culture,
A nation that leads change with advanced technology,
A Republic of Korea that becomes a global model through exemplary democracy.
If our Republic of Korea does it, it will become the world’s standard.
Respected fellow citizens.
Restoration and growth are, in the end,
For the happiness of the people, the owners of this land.
Let us build a true democratic republic where all national resources are used fully for the people.
Beyond small differences, let us acknowledge and respect each other,
And let us march together toward a nation where the people are the owners,
A nation where the people are happy,
And a truly great Republic of Korea.
You, the citizens who resisted the insurrection mobilized by state power
And opened a world of hope with beautiful light, are the protagonists of this great historical journey.
As a loyal servant to the sovereigns of the Republic of Korea,
As the agent entrusted with the lives of the 52 million people and the nation’s future,
I will faithfully fulfill the responsibilities given to the 21st President of the Republic of Korea.
Thank you.