Opening Ceremony of the 21st National Assembly Scheduled for the 16th... Will Reflect Determination to Overcome the COVID-19 Economic Crisis and Promote the Korean New Deal
[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] President Moon Jae-in (face) will finally deliver the opening speech of the 21st National Assembly on the 16th. Although it is the latest opening since the 1987 constitutional amendment, the speech is expected to include a request for the National Assembly to lend its support in overcoming the national economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Blue House on the 15th, President Moon cleared his schedule to make a final review of the opening speech, which lasts about 30 minutes. The opening speech at the National Assembly will be the only one during President Moon’s term. There were concerns that he might be recorded as the first president in constitutional history not to deliver an opening speech during his term. However, the speech was confirmed after the ruling and opposition parties reached a dramatic agreement on the schedule for the July extraordinary session, including the opening ceremony, the previous afternoon.
Key themes of President Moon’s opening speech are expected to include overcoming the economic national crisis caused by COVID-19 and the “Korean New Deal,” whose comprehensive plan was unveiled the day before. In particular, since President Moon emphasized at the Korean New Deal National Report Conference the day before that “the success of the Korean New Deal depends on speed,” he is expected to urge the swift passage of related legislation for prompt implementation. Additionally, President Moon is likely to request the early launch of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, which he has repeatedly called for.
The Blue House initially prepared the opening speech with the legal opening date of the 21st National Assembly, July 5th, in mind. However, due to the unprecedented delay of 45 days, the longest in history, President Moon’s speech had to be revised several times. Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok expressed regret during a briefing on the 1st, saying, “The speech we prepared with great care turned into a draft as the opening ceremony kept being delayed.”
In fact, due to rapidly changing current affairs, the speech has been revised about ten times, including complete rewrites. The final review of the speech was conducted only the day before the confirmed opening date of the National Assembly.
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