(unofficial translation)  My fellow Korean citizens, and proud members of the Armed Forces, I sincerely congratulate you on the 77th anniversary of our Armed Forces Day. I am filled with pride and emotions as I stand before the full strength of our military here at Gyeryongdae, the heart of our armed forces that...

Oct 01, 2025

I would like to express my respect and gratitude to all Members of the United Nations and staff of the UN Secretariat for their contribution to world peace and shared prosperity. I extend my sincere congratulations to Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock on assuming the Presidency of the 80th Session of the UN General A...

Sep 23, 2025

(Unofficial Translation) My fellow 52 million Korean citizens, and 7 million Koreans overseas, decorated independence activists and relatives of the dearly departed, Eighty years ago today, we reclaimed the light that had been wrested from us. The light that once again touched our hearts and brightly illuminated...

Aug 15, 2025

(unofficial translation)  I stand here today with an overwhelming sense of responsibility and profound gratitude. Carrying in my heart the millions of aspirations and hopes entrusted to me by our 52 million citizens, today I take my first step as the 21st President of the Republic of Korea toward building a true dem...

Jun 04, 2025

Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, Director Choi Shing Kwok, Distinguished Guests, Good morning. It is a great pleasure to speak at the Singapore Lecture, a world-renowned platform for its prestige and tradition. I would like to begin by extending my sincere appreciation to ISEAS for or...

Oct 09, 2024

[Unofficial Translation] Your Excellency Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, the people of Singapore, I am indeed grateful for the warm hospitality extended to me. It is a great pleasure to make a state visit to Singapore, a key partner of Korea within ASEAN, ahead of next year’s 50th anniversary of the estab...

Oct 08, 2024

[Unofficial Translation] Your Excellency President Bongbong Marcos, distinguished business leaders from both countries, It is wonderful that the Korea-Philippines Business Forum is being held here in Manila, the Pearl of the Orient and a gateway linking Asia and the Pacific. Korea and the Philippines possess ...

Oct 07, 2024

[Unofficial Translation] My fellow Koreans, Honorable members of the Armed Forces and distinguished guests, I sincerely congratulate you on the 76th anniversary of our Armed Forces Day. I thank the soldiers who are protecting our country and its people with thoroughness and precision, even at this very mom...

Oct 01, 2024

[Unofficial Translation] My fellow citizens, our 7 million compatriots overseas and our 26 million North Korean brethren, Today, we mark the 79th Liberation Day. We pay tribute to our fallen forebears and patriots who dedicated their lives to our country’s independence and express our deepest gratitude to the...

Aug 15, 2024

[Unofficial Translation] Dr. Kenneth Weinstein, President Emeritus of the Hudson Institute, Distinguished participants, Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure to be here with all of you in Washington, D.C., where NATO was founded 75 years ago. President Harry Truman, who devised the Marshall Plan and ch...

Jul 11, 2024