Yoon: "We Must Treat Overseas Markets Like Our Own Home... Will Meet with All Countries Where Korea Expands" (Comprehensive)

President Yoon Urges 'Follow-up Measures' at Cabinet Meeting After ASEAN and G20 Tours
Mentions 'Digital Norms' Saying "Fake News Threatens the Future and Future Generations’ Lives"
"Heartbreaking News from Education Field"... Calls for Passage of Bills to Establish and Protect Teachers' Rights

President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 12th stated, "Our country must navigate overseas markets as if they were our own home to invigorate the economy and create jobs," and instructed the establishment of various communication and consultation channels for emerging strategic markets. He ordered practical follow-up measures in the field of economic cooperation based on the ASEAN and G20 summits held last week, promising, "During my term, I will meet with the leaders of all countries where Korean citizens and companies have entered and support our people and businesses."

President Yoon presided over a Cabinet meeting at the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning, saying, "Relevant ministries should thoroughly manage the agreements and implementation tasks derived from this tour and swiftly proceed with follow-up actions to translate them into concrete results." During the recent tour, President Yoon achieved outcomes such as signing MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) in various fields including critical minerals, nuclear power, and mobility through summit meetings, bilateral talks, and meetings with local businesspeople.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 12th. Photo by Yonhap News

Yoon Urges Establishment of Space Aviation Agency... "Our Youth Are Eagerly Waiting"

The Cabinet meeting was convened to report the economic achievements from the tour to the public and to request cooperation on agenda items. President Yoon explained, "We completed 33 intense schedules including six multilateral meetings and 20 bilateral talks," adding, "We discussed specialized cooperation plans by country and core issues related to overseas economic and social activities of our companies and citizens, overseas expansion, mutual investment, and development cooperation."

Referring to a separate summit with Indian Prime Minister Modi, he said, "Following the signing of a cooperation MOU between NASA and our Ministry of Science and ICT during the state visit to the U.S. in April, we have agreed to promote space science cooperation with India as well," urging the prompt establishment of a space aviation agency to translate these into concrete achievements. President Yoon added, "Our youth, who will passionately dedicate themselves to the future space economy, are eagerly awaiting the bill for the establishment of the Space Aviation Agency currently submitted to the National Assembly."

In preparation for full-scale economic cooperation with emerging strategic markets such as India and Indonesia, he also instructed, "Please comprehensively reorganize various communication and consultation channels at all levels, including the private sector." President Yoon emphasized, "Development cooperation is essential for our companies' exports and overseas expansion."

He also expressed his commitment to the Korea-China-Japan summit prepared through talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. President Yoon stated, "During this tour, Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Kishida expressed support for the resumption of the Korea-China-Japan summit," adding, "As the chair country, Korea will actively promote the holding of the Korea-China-Japan summit."

Emphasizing the Establishment of Digital Norms: "Threats to Liberal Democracy and Market Economy"... "Yoon's Efforts Recognized by the International Community"

Pointing out 'fake news,' President Yoon also stressed the necessity of establishing 'digital norms' that the government is preparing. He said, "At this G20 summit, we agreed to cooperate in establishing international governance for AI," warning, "If we fail to prevent the spread of fake news caused by the misuse of AI and digital technologies, liberal democracy will be threatened, the market economy based on liberal democracy will be endangered, and our future and the lives of future generations will also be at risk."

This was a point President Yoon emphasized to world leaders during the recent tour as well. At the G20 summit, he stated, "Digital divides, cybercrime, and fake news threaten the freedom of global citizens," and added, "We must guarantee fair access to digital technology and newly establish digital norms to expand the freedom of global citizens." He called for international action to establish 'global digital norms' and previewed, "Korea will announce the 'Digital Bill of Rights' at the end of this month and declare digital enjoyment rights as universal human rights."

President Yoon's proposals regarding 'digital norms' on the global stage also resulted in inclusion in the G20 summit joint declaration. The leaders included the phrase "Welcome the establishment of a G20 framework for public digital infrastructure systems" under the item 'Technological Transformation and Digital Public Infrastructure.' The Presidential Office explained this as "international recognition of the importance and necessity of President Yoon's efforts to establish digital norms."

The government is currently discussing the 'Digital Bill of Rights,' which outlines the basic direction for establishing a new digital order. Although the Digital Bill of Rights itself does not have legal enforceability, as it will be formalized as an official government principle, related laws and enforcement decrees based on it are likely to be revised.

"Heartbreaking News from the Education Field... Swift Passage of Bills to Establish and Protect Teachers' Rights Needed"

After receiving reports on domestic issues from aides the previous afternoon, President Yoon said regarding the ongoing Saturday gatherings of teachers nationwide, "There have been heartbreaking news from the education field recently," and stressed, "Normalization of the education field must be achieved swiftly." He urged the rapid implementation of 'restoring teachers' rights,' which he has emphasized several times, and even before the tour, he mentioned, "Please deeply heed the voices raised by teachers in the field and make every effort to establish teachers' rights and normalize the education field."

On this day as well, President Yoon expressed hope that "Bills submitted to the National Assembly to establish teachers' rights and protect teachers, including the 'Framework Act on Education' which stipulates guardians' obligation to cooperate with legitimate educational activities, will be promptly processed," and requested the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Justice to swiftly revise the 'Teachers' Rights Exercise Guidelines' to ensure that teachers' legitimate exercise of rights is not punished.

As President Yoon once again delivered a message on establishing teachers' rights, it is expected that the ruling party and government will accelerate their actions. A prime example is the swift passage of the 'Teachers' Status Act Amendment' currently under discussion in the National Assembly's Education Committee. President Yoon also urged, "If teachers' rights are not established, the human rights and learning rights of other students cannot be guaranteed."

Currently, the ruling party and government plan to protect teachers from indiscriminate child abuse reports by introducing additional mandatory provisions under the 'Teachers' Status Act Amendment' during investigations and prosecutions of child abuse related to legitimate guidance by teachers, departing from existing investigation and prosecution methods. The plan includes requiring superintendents to submit opinions mandatorily to investigative and prosecutorial agencies, having these agencies attach the submitted opinions to records, and consider them when conducting investigations and making decisions.

Additionally, they plan to strengthen the 'conditions for suspension from duty' to prevent suspension without justifiable reasons when teachers are reported for child abuse. The previous day, the ruling party and government held a council at the National Assembly to discuss 'Measures to Respond to Indiscriminate Child Abuse Reports Against Teachers,' and decided to promptly process a legislative amendment to the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes containing these provisions through member-initiated legislation.