Mr. President, Dr. Biden, esteemed guests and supporters of the ROK-U.S. Alliance, thank you for your warm welcome.

Each of you at this magnificent and wonderful state dinner today is a reliable stakeholder and sponsor of the ROK-U.S. Alliance, which is one of the greatest in history. Mr. President, allow me to quote an Irish poet of yours. Seamus Heaney once wrote, “Behavior that’s admired is the path to power among people everywhere.”

We admire sacrifices and actions of those who have propped up the ROK-U.S. Alliance for the past seven decades, which have come together to forge a strong alliance in action, moving toward the future.

The seeds of the ROK-U.S. Alliance, sown in the ruins of the Korean War, have steadfastly grown over the past 70 years to form a rich and dense forest. The Republic of Korea’s unprecedented economic growth and dynamic democracy have always been rooted in the ROK-U.S. Alliance.

Today, President Biden and I, together, celebrated the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance and had in-depth discussions on ways to further deepen our partnership in the future. We reaffirmed that our trust in the alliance and a willingness to closely work together going forward will remain ironclad.

The alliance will last another seven decades and beyond. And it will open endless opportunities to the future generations of our two countries. And going forward, the ROK-U.S. Alliance will take on more roles and responsibilities in order to tackle the complex crisis of our times. We will together embrace the future of the alliance, undergirded by our shared core values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

The alliance will not only ensure the security and prosperity of both countries, but also contribute to the peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and of the world. And those of you joining us here today are the main drivers for building such an alliance.

And there’s an old saying – and, Mr. President, this one is also Irish – that goes: “A good friend is like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have.”

Today will be remembered as a historic day where the ROK-U.S. Alliance, like a four-leaf clover, spreads its new roots wide beyond the glory of the past 70 years.

Now I ask you to join me in a toast. To our alliance, confidently marching toward the future.

To our ironclad alliance.