President Moon: "Strengthening the ROK-US Alliance is Essential for the Success of the Korean Peninsula Peace Process" (Comprehensive)

Foreign Minister Jeong Eui-yong Given "Last Chance to Make an Effort"... Minister Hwang Hee Urged to "End Sports Violence"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] On the 15th, President Moon Jae-in, during a conversation following the appointment ceremony of Cabinet members, told Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, "I want to emphasize once again that this is the last opportunity to make efforts to succeed in the Korean Peninsula peace process," adding, "To succeed in the Korean Peninsula peace process, the South Korea-US alliance must be strengthened."

When Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong expressed his aspiration, saying, "This is the last opportunity to serve the country," and "I will do my best so that the Korean Peninsula peace process takes root and the country can become what Your Excellency called ‘a nation where peace becomes a daily reality,’" President Moon responded as follows.

President Moon conveyed his message during a conversation with Minister Chung, Minister Hwang Hee of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Minister Kwon Chil-seung of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. President Moon told Minister Chung, "It is true that we do not have much time left. However, I want to ask you not to rush to achieve visible results within the given time. Please approach this step by step."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon did not hold back his praise, saying, "Minister Chung is the foundation of our government's foreign and security policy."

President Moon urged, "It is only possible to succeed in the Korean Peninsula process by closely communicating and cooperating with the Biden administration. Please also cooperate closely with neighboring countries and strive to protect our national interests."

Furthermore, President Moon requested, "Please continue efforts to diversify diplomacy, expressed as the New Southern and New Northern Policies. Through the P4G Summit in May and the G7 Summit held in the UK, please work to raise South Korea’s diplomatic status as a middle power serving as a bridge between developed and developing countries."

President Moon told Minister Hwang Hee, "The sports sector has instilled great pride in the people so far. However, issues related to sports human rights, such as violence, corporal punishment, and sexual harassment, have been raised in the shadows. Please make extraordinary efforts to eradicate these problems."

President Moon said, "The priority task is to normalize and recover the culture, sports, and tourism sectors, which have been severely damaged by COVID-19. Please provide maximum support so that the people, exhausted, stressed, and mentally depressed due to COVID-19, can heal and recover from their pain."

President Moon added, "Even amid the COVID-19 situation, our concrete status as a cultural powerhouse has risen. Please pay special attention to making the cultural industry a future new growth engine."

Before President Moon’s request, Minister Hwang Hee expressed his aspiration, saying, "We will do our best to find ways for the culture, sports, and tourism sectors, which have been severely shocked by COVID-19, to recover quickly," and "We will focus on the Cultural New Deal."

President Moon evaluated Minister Kwon Chil-seung, saying, "There has never been a time when the status of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups was so strongly highlighted. Despite many small businesses and self-employed people struggling due to COVID-19, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has played a primary role in representing and supporting their difficulties well."

President Moon explained, "Despite hardships caused by COVID-19, venture investment performance is reaching an all-time high, with a second venture boom underway. Venture companies are positioned at the top of the KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices. This shows the increasing importance of venture companies."

President Moon urged, "Please pay attention and provide substantial support so that the second venture boom can make venture companies a brand. Creating a reasonable loss compensation system is also a major task. I ask the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to propose measures and for each ministry to pool wisdom."

Minister Kwon expressed his aspiration, saying, "We will do our best so that small business owners and the self-employed can restore their daily lives, and that SMEs and startups become the driving force and cornerstone of our economy."