Yoon Takes the Stage at Democracy Summit for Two Consecutive Days... Emphasizing 'International Solidarity' (Comprehensive)

Individual Corruption Ultimately Distorts Community and Undermines Democracy
Emphasis on International Solidarity to Eradicate Corruption
Korea Stresses Close Cooperation with International Community for Democracy
Contributing $100 Million Over 3 Years to Indo-Pacific Democracy Development
Promoting 'Democracy Advancement for Future Generations'

President Yoon Suk-yeol repeatedly emphasized the solidarity of democratic countries at the 2nd Democracy Summit, held over two days from the 29th to the 30th of this month. The purpose was to stress that countries believing in universal democratic values such as freedom, human rights, and the rule of law must unite to prevent the retreat of democracy amid various global crises like authoritarianism and corruption. Additionally, President Yoon reaffirmed his intention for South Korea to actively contribute by repaying the international community that has fostered democratic prosperity and by implementing projects worth $100 million over three years to promote democracy in Indo-Pacific countries.

At 9 a.m. that day, President Yoon delivered a welcoming address at a session titled "Challenges and Achievements in Combating Corruption" during the Indo-Pacific regional meeting of the 2nd Democracy Summit held at a hotel in Seoul. He stated, "Strengthening transparency across all sectors of society is the best way to eliminate corruption."

First, he urged the international community to unite and decisively eradicate corruption, which distorts and paralyzes community decision-making, thereby damaging democracy. President Yoon said, "We have focused only on individual acts of corruption, but if we extract the essence of these acts, they distort and paralyze the community decision-making system." He pointed out, "The spread of false information led by specific groups and forces, incitement based on that, violence and threats, and covert and fraudulent rent-seeking activities?these are precisely what distort and incapacitate the community decision-making system known as democracy."

He continued, "South Korea has strengthened its capacity to combat corruption by improving anti-corruption legislation and establishing a digital criminal justice system," and urged, "Countries that share universal values such as freedom, human rights, the rule of law, and democracy must unite to strongly respond to transnational corruption crimes." He added, "As the host of the 3rd Democracy Summit, South Korea will take the lead in sharing and spreading universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, and in efforts to promote democracy worldwide."

South Korea once again pledged to contribute to the development of democracy in the Indo-Pacific region across various fields. President Yoon stated, "South Korea intends to pursue a 'Shared Vision for Democracy and Prosperity' to repay the international community that has helped achieve liberal democracy and prosperity." He added, "We will implement development cooperation projects worth $100 million over the next three years in areas that can contribute to democracy promotion, such as e-government, digital and technological capacity building, transparency, and anti-corruption, targeting Indo-Pacific countries in need of support."

This aligns with the detailed contents of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy for Freedom, Peace, and Prosperity" announced by the Yoon administration in December last year. The Indo-Pacific Strategy centers on making values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights the foundation of the regional order and pledges solidarity and support with countries sharing these values.

He further said, "We will promote the 'Promoting Democracy for Future Generation' program in a 1.5-track youth forum format involving both government and private sectors to support Indo-Pacific youth in contributing to freedom and prosperity," and requested, "I ask for your active cooperation so that this new blueprint can be a meaningful first step in defending democracy."

Earlier, at the 1st session of the plenary meeting titled "Prosperity with Economic Growth" of the 2nd Democracy Summit held on the afternoon of the 29th, President Yoon also emphasized international solidarity, saying, "We must start a new journey to revive retreating democracy through relentless innovation and solidarity." In particular, he expressed expectations that the 2nd Democracy Summit would be an opportunity to strengthen the international community's joint efforts toward freedom and democracy, while pledging that South Korea will take a leading role as a "promoter of freedom."

Regarding this, President Yoon promised, "As the next host country of the Democracy Summit, South Korea will fulfill its responsibilities and roles to further solidify democracy that guarantees freedom, and parliamentary democracy represented by the rule of law and representative democracy." He added, "We will closely cooperate with the international community to strongly support and act on solidarity to firmly protect democracy." President Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden, in a joint summit statement the previous day as part of Korea's leading role, announced that South Korea will host the next Democracy Summit.

[Image source=Yonhap News]