Yoon Suk-yeol Announces "Establishment of Inter-Korean-US Liaison Office"... Announces 11 Major Diplomatic and Security Pledges

People Power Party's Yoon Seok-yeol, a preliminary candidate for the presidential primary, is waving his hand to greet returning travelers at the Seoul Station platform on the morning of the 19th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate from the People Power Party, has proposed diplomatic and security pledges including the 'Establishment of a Permanent South-North-US Liaison Office' and 'Development of Military Hospitals.'

On the 22nd, Yoon announced 11 major pledges in the fields of diplomacy and security at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul.

Yoon said, "We will strengthen cooperation with neighboring countries to resume denuclearization talks with North Korea and increase communication between South and North Korea." He added, "To this end, we will establish a permanent South-North-US liaison office in Panmunjom and systematically prepare for economic cooperation following progress in denuclearization."

He then emphasized the South Korea-US alliance. Yoon stated, "We will rebuild the South Korea-US alliance more strongly. Based on the values of liberal democracy, we will share visions and interests, expanding cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region for peace as well as in emerging areas such as health, climate change, new technologies, space, and cyber to realize a 'comprehensive strategic alliance.'" He explained, "We will regularize various talks to strengthen trust and participate in the 'Quad' vaccine, climate change, and new technology working groups to expand functional cooperation."

Along with this, Yoon proposed realizing the 'Korea-Japan Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration 2.0 era,' establishing a 'New Security Committee' directly under the Prime Minister's Office, and early deployment of a 'Korean-style Iron Dome.'

The pledges also included measures targeting the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z). Yoon said, "We will expand remote lectures and university credit grants so that military service can be beneficial in life, provide entrepreneurship support education, and offer customized programs for personal physical care of soldiers." He added, "We will foster top-brand military hospitals with rapid emergency systems and trauma centers, improve the medical system centered on demand by expanding telemedicine and using private hospitals."

Yoon also promised to reduce waiting times for enlistment, exclude public holidays from soldiers' leave time calculations, and extend mobile phone possession hours. He said, "We will reflect the voices from the field," and "We will devise practical and fundamental measures to eradicate harsh treatment and sexual misconduct within the military."