A contribution by a noted Korean columnist
By Publisher Lee Kyung-sik
A noted Korean columnist, Kim Jin-hong, has written a short article for The Korea Post media on President Yoon Suk-yeol, which is considered to represent the views of many people in Korea. Here are excerpts from an unofficial English version of the contribution.—Ed.
President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office as the 20th-term President of the Republic of Korea on May 10, 2022, mentioned the following four details in his inaugural address.
In particular, it is said that this inaugural address was written by himself without the help of any staff members.
The top priority the Present gave in the address is to restore liberal democracy.
Liberal democracy has always been neglected overly and clandestinely in the Era of former President Moon Jae-in.
Second, Yoon plans to shift the direction of economic management from distribution to growth.
In general, socialism and communism emphasize the importance of distribution. In contrast, free democracy emphasizes growth.
Many people may have felt during the past five years under Moon that growth has been shrunken and corporate morale has fallen as the emphasis was continuously placed on distribution throughout the five-year duration of his rule.
Third, now we have to promote scientific and technological innovation.
The world of this age is entering an Era of Fourth Industrial Revolution.
In this era, countries that lag behind in science and technology are bound to fall behind.
Fourth, Korea will now strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance and stand shoulder to shoulder with all the countries of the Free World.
In the meantime, as the ROK-U.S. alliance, which formed the backbone of our national existence, has been shaken and the first-priority policy in favor of the interests of the Free World has been neglected, and there has even been a sense of alienation from the world as Korea appeared to be leaning toward a pro-China and pro-North Korea stance.
In his inaugural address, President Yoon declared that he would correct these trends.
I hope that the Republic of Korea, the motherland where we all love in, can find her proper place again, and build the right foundation for a prosperous and strong Republic of Korea.