Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye Followed by First Face-to-Face Solo Special Address in 9 Years
Focus on Supply Chains, Climate Crisis, Health, and Digital Order
[Davos=Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] On the 19th (local time), President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized "strengthening the resilience of global supply chains" at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (WEF, Davos Forum). President Yoon stated, "South Korea will become a key partner in the global supply chain, possessing the world's best production technology and manufacturing capabilities in the fields of semiconductors, secondary batteries, steel, and bio."
On the morning of the same day, President Yoon delivered a special solo speech at the Davos Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, addressing global leaders on international cooperation measures to overcome the global economic crisis. This special speech by a head of state was held face-to-face for the first time in nine years, following former President Lee Myung-bak in 2010 and former President Park Geun-hye in 2014.
President Yoon Suk-yeol shakes hands with Klaus Schwab, WEF Chairman, ahead of his solo special speech at the 2023 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (WEF Davos Forum) held in Davos, Switzerland, on the 19th (local time). [Photo by Yonhap News]
Under the theme "Solidarity in Action," President Yoon presented the path of international cooperation and solidarity for ▲strengthening the resilience of global supply chains for sustainable economic prosperity ▲transition to clean energy to respond to the climate crisis and secure energy security ▲strengthening global cooperation to close health gaps ▲and realizing a digital order that contributes to freedom and prosperity, announcing that South Korea will play a leading role in these efforts to the international community.
He identified strengthening the resilience of global supply chains as the most urgent issue. President Yoon said, "Strengthening supply chain resilience must also be addressed based on the spirit of freedom and solidarity," adding, "We must build resilient supply chains through strong solidarity among nations and pursue coexistence of global citizens." In particular, he emphasized, "South Korea will become a key partner in the global supply chain, possessing the world's best production technology and manufacturing capabilities in the fields of semiconductors, secondary batteries, steel, and bio." He also introduced that the recently announced Indo-Pacific strategy by the Korean government embodies the will to cooperate and innovate with countries aspiring for freedom, peace, and prosperity.
He also mentioned overcoming the climate crisis. As a key means to harmoniously achieve energy transition and energy security, he proposed nuclear power and clean hydrogen. President Yoon said, "Our government will systematically pursue carbon neutrality by expanding nuclear power," adding, "South Korea has world-class nuclear power technology, construction, and operational capabilities, and we will cooperate with countries that need nuclear technology to achieve carbon neutrality goals."
He raised the issue of closing health gaps between countries. President Yoon stated, "South Korea will actively contribute to international cooperation for pandemic prevention and response funding, training bio personnel to enhance vaccine production capabilities, and responding to future new infectious diseases." He further explained, "The international community must work together to develop infectious disease response tools such as vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic devices and join forces to ensure equitable access for global citizens."
Additionally, President Yoon pointed out that the digital divide poses new challenges to human peace and prosperity. In this context, he emphasized, "We must establish a global digital order so that digital technology can contribute to expanding the freedom of global citizens." He continued, "South Korea will define the right to enjoy digital technology as a universal human right and prepare a Digital Bill of Rights that presents principles for resolving new issues in the era of deepening digitalization."
Meanwhile, this year's Davos Forum held intensive discussions on the direction the international community should take under the theme "Cooperation in a Fragmented World," with major country leaders, international organization representatives, global business leaders, academia, and civil society leaders. A presidential office official stated, "Through this special speech, not only in words but also in practice, by presenting a path of cooperation through 'solidarity in action' and declaring our willingness to contribute, it is evaluated as a meaningful contribution to expanding the freedom, peace, and prosperity of global citizens and promoting the international community's joint efforts to offer a better future to the next generation."
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