(Unofficial Translation) Good morning, everyone. I am glad that representatives from health-related agencies and prominent vaccine companies from both nations are here today for this meaningful event. I am grateful to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon...

May 22, 2021

(Unofficial Translation) Honorable Korean War veterans and bereaved families, Yesterday, I visited Arlington National Cemetery and witnessed the firm core of the United States, a country that respects individual lives and repays those dedicated to the nation and its communities with the utmost honor and esteem. ...

May 22, 2021

(Unofficial Translation) President Biden and Vice President Harris, I am deeply grateful to you for your special hospitality. The Korean and U.S. leaders and their delegations having face-to-face discussions today will bring hope for overcoming COVID-19 and become a meaningful gift to both Koreans and Americans on t...

May 22, 2021

(Unofficial Translation) Thank you, Mr. President. I’d like to express my deep gratitude to President Biden and the American people for extending such warm hospitality to me and my delegation. I congratulate the United States on becoming an example to the world as it succeeds in overcoming COVID-19, achieving ...

May 22, 2021

(Unofficial Translation) Thank you, President Biden. It is very meaningful for me that President Biden extended an invitation to join this ceremony to award the Medal of Honor to retired Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr. I was told that this is the first time for a foreign head of state to attend a Medal of Honor presentati...

May 22, 2021

(Unofficial Translation) I am grateful to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo for arranging this invaluable meeting. Leaders from America’s cutting-edge businesses and Korea’s global manufacturers have been brought together. Just seeing you here brings new hope. In the same way that friendship shine...

May 21, 2021

(Unofficial Translation) “This is May which never dwells on the past or today.” May in Gwangju has come around again. The way to the May 18th National Cemetery and Mangweol-dong Cemetery must be lined with white blossoms from the ipap namu, or fringetrees, that look like cooked rice. A citizen a...

May 18, 2021

(Unofficial Translation) I am very glad to see the new leadership of our ruling party. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Chairperson Song Young-gil, Floor Leader Yun Ho-jung and other Supreme Council members on your elections as the party’s new leaders. Your shoulders are surely burdened by the heavy re...

May 14, 2021

(Unofficial Translation) Fellow Koreans, The global semiconductor market is experiencing a period of seismic changes. The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the transition to a contact-free, digital economy. Such Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies as IoT and artificial intelligence are rapidly growing. In ...

May 13, 2021

(Unofficial Translation) Fellow Koreans, My term in office will end in a year. This is typically the time to think about how to bring things to a close. However, I feel the remaining one year is more important than any part of the past four years. We are still in a crisis, and the people are unable to return to ...

May 10, 2021