(unofficial translation) Fellow Koreans, distinguished American citizens, Korean War veterans and families of the fallen, Finally today, heroes of the United States and the Republic of Korea will be sent back to their hometowns and the relatives who have waited for them over 70 long years. It is my great privile...

Sep 23, 2021

(unofficial translation) Fellow Koreans overseas, descendants of decorated independence activists, Today, I have come to hand-deliver the Order of Merit to the descendants of two decorated independence activists – Kim No-di and Ahn Jung-song – who were posthumously honored on the March First Independ...

Sep 23, 2021

(Unofficial Translation) Your Excellencies, President Biden and other heads of state and government, I welcome the convening of the Virtual Global COVID-19 Summit. I’d like to express my respect for the leadership of President Biden, who is spearheading international solidarity and cooperation to help overc...

Sep 23, 2021

(unofficial translation) Standing before you again in two years at the United Nations General Assembly, I am keenly reminded of the precious normal daily lives that had been lost. Guided by the leadership of President Shahid who assumed presidency of the 76th session of the UNGA, I hope the international community w...

Sep 21, 2021

(unofficial translation) President Phúc, I am glad to see you again. It’s been two years since our meeting at the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit. I congratulate you on your election as President during your National Assembly’s meeting session earlier this year. I was told that it was the first time an incumbent...

Sep 21, 2021

(unofficial translation) I am glad to meet you all. Vaccine companies and research institutes from Korea and the United States have gathered here to sign vaccine partnership MOUs. Cytiva has submitted a report to the Korean Government for its investment plan. Vaccine enterprises and research organizations are about ...

Sep 21, 2021

(unofficial translation) I am glad to meet you, Chairman Albert Bourla and Senior Vice President Jon Selib. Chairman Bourla, I am so pleased to meet you today at long last. I am grateful to you for taking time out of your busy schedule. Pfizer has become the world’s most famous and important enterprise this...

Sep 21, 2021

(unofficial translation) President Borut Pahor, I am glad to see you again. It’s been three years since our meeting during your visit to Korea – the first by a Slovenian president – on the occasion of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. It is my great honor to receive from you the Order of Special Mer...

Sep 20, 2021

(unofficial translation) Thank you, Your Excellency Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Just as you mentioned, I am glad to see you again after our meeting at the G7 Summit. My attendance at the G7 Summit has helped the Republic of Korea firmly establish itself as a responsible member of the international community. I&rsq...

Sep 20, 2021

[unofficial translation] President Abdulla Shahid, Secretary General António Guterres, Distinguished delegates, I am extremely delighted to join you at SDG Moment 2021 and grateful for inviting me to this special occasion. A research institute of the United Nations University recently released a rep...

Sep 20, 2021