President Moon prepares for retirement with interview and moving to private residence
Shin Dong-ho, Cheong speech secretary, "Serving the people as masters with bowed head"
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Ahead of President Moon Jae-in's retirement in May, the Blue House has been busy preparing for his departure, recently publishing two books that record President Moon's speeches and government policies. Amid this, Shin Dong-ho, the Blue House speech secretary, highly praised President Moon, saying, "He tried to show that it is possible to reach a new world without a desire for power, and he did so alone."
On the 24th, Secretary Shin wrote on his Facebook, addressing President Moon, "People say he is too kind. That is not true," adding, "It can only be done with power. Amid voices intoxicated by power, he lived a different life solely to win hearts." He continued, "He sat around the radical gambling table without regard to left or right, but alone, he hung a lantern on a feasible path."
Secretary Shin said, "Success or failure does not belong to that era, nor is it objective," and "Only the purity of motive transcends the times to create value. Different memories of the same event, different interpretations of the same words. Asking about success or failure in front of that is futile. He practiced honesty, sincerity, and utmost devotion day by day."
He emphasized, "Living differently cannot be done by words. It is only attitude. He did as he was accustomed to," adding, "Sharing power may be too early for us. He bowed his head and trusted, serving the people as masters. The greatness of ordinariness, a world where people live without laws."
Furthermore, he said, "Living as if nothing by conversing with wild grass is the last step left to reach a new world without a desire for power," and "It is leaving only truth and conscience at the beginning and the end. It is self-restraint to keep our dignity well. He endures."
Meanwhile, with about two weeks left until President Moon's term ends, the Blue House is proceeding with retirement preparations. On the 28th of last month, 'A Country No One Can Shake,' containing President Moon's speeches over the past five years, was published, and on the 13th, 'The Great Nation of the People,' containing major policies of the Moon Jae-in administration, was released.
Interviews where President Moon will share his reflections on five years of governance are also scheduled. On the 25th, President Moon will hold his last press conference with the press corps within the Blue House premises during his term. On the 25th and 26th, an interview video with Son Seok-hee, JTBC's roving correspondent, will be released. According to the preview video of the 'Dialogue - Moon Jae-in's 5 Years' interview, pre-released by JTBC on the 22nd, President Moon is expected to discuss the Democratic Party's defeat in the last presidential election, North Korea issues, the prosecution reform (검수완박), and other current affairs.
On the 20th, the move to the private residence prepared in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, also began. The day before, it was reported in the media that moving rice cakes were delivered to neighboring residents in the names of President Moon and his wife. Following this news, it is known that visitors such as tourists and supporters have been continuously visiting Pyeongsan Village, where the private residence is located.
Previously, President Moon expressed his wish to live a 'forgotten life' after retirement. In a New Year's press conference in January 2020, he stated, "After finishing my term, I want to return as a forgotten person." On the 30th of last month, he attended the 15th Jogye Order Supreme Patriarch's enthronement ceremony and said, "I will do my best during the remaining period and live a forgotten, free life by returning to nature."
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