Yoon: "A Domestic Market of 50 Million... Must Expand to 500 Million and 5 Billion Markets" (Comprehensive)

President Yoon Chairs Cabinet Meeting... Refers to UN General Assembly Tour Achievements, Saying "We Must Expand the Playing Field"
'Mutanso Yeonhap' Launched... "If Successful, It Will Create a Huge New Export Market"
Report on Digital Bill of Rights... "Digital Technology Should Be Used to Expand Human Freedom"

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 25th, "Our domestic market of 50 million people must expand into a global market of 500 million or 5 billion people," expressing his determination to continue diplomatic activities focused on the economy to broaden the horizons of the domestic economy. He particularly emphasized the government's commitment to launching the 'Carbon Free Alliance' and confidently predicted that it would secure a vast export market.

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon presided over a Cabinet meeting at the Yongsan Presidential Office, sharing with the public the outcomes of economic cooperation discussed in various formats with 47 heads of state during his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly. He said, "During this UN General Assembly attendance, we focused on expanding our exports and overseas expansion, attracting investment, and diversifying supply chains."

President Yoon especially highlighted that "we concentrated on expanding the playing field where our people and companies can freely compete," emphasizing that the diplomatic efforts to host the Busan Expo were essentially an economic tour. He believes that when recipient countries benefit from ODA (Official Development Assistance) supported by the Korean government, it will open larger markets for Korean companies and provide more quality jobs for Korean citizens.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held on the 25th at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

This includes President Yoon’s intention to establish 'communication and consultation channels' for new export markets. It serves as a stepping stone for securing supply chains, one of the key economic national agendas of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Amid various variables such as the US-China hegemonic rivalry, the government aims to build a multifaceted, independent economic cooperation system at the state level.

Within the Presidential Office, the recent ASEAN and G20 summits and the UN General Assembly attendance are interpreted as de facto economic tours. The president personally targeted export markets, laying the foundation for domestic companies to enter and directly attracting investment. They are confident that this proactive sales diplomacy will put an end to the negative export trend.

On this day, President Yoon also instructed thorough follow-up measures on the issues discussed in each meeting. He said, "Relevant ministries and agencies should meticulously manage follow-up actions such as forming intergovernmental consultative bodies, dispatching economic delegations, and public-private cooperation to ensure that the matters discussed in these bilateral summits lead to overseas expansion of our companies and job creation." He added a warning, "There is a saying that diligence leads to success. We must not have a vague notion that what we want will come with half-hearted efforts."

He reiterated the proposal to launch the 'Carbon Free Alliance' to promote the use of carbon-free, high-efficiency energy such as nuclear power and hydrogen and to address climate disparities between countries. President Yoon said, "If the 'Carbon Free Alliance' we lead achieves results, it will further strengthen our competitiveness in nuclear power and hydrogen sectors and secure a huge new export market." He urged, "Relevant ministries should actively support the launch of the 'Carbon Free Alliance' and make diplomatic efforts to encourage many companies, governments, and international organizations worldwide to join."

He also directed follow-up support for the government's digital bill of rights, which sets the basic direction for the new digital order. President Yoon said, "The full text of the digital bill of rights mentioned earlier will be reported at today’s Cabinet meeting. Each ministry should establish AI and digital policies related to their respective duties based on this." Although the 'digital bill of rights' does not have legal binding force, it is formalized as an official government principle, and related laws and enforcement decrees are expected to be revised accordingly. President Yoon explained, "Digital technology should be used solely to expand human freedom, ensure fair competition and compensation systems, and protect the safety of liberal democracy and market economy."

He also stressed the importance of security cooperation in the international community. President Yoon strongly pointed out, "If the current reality continues where a permanent member of the UN Security Council commits armed aggression to start a war and blatantly violates Security Council resolutions while focusing on nuclear development, and such regimes are left unchecked and supported, criticism and calls for reform of the current UN Security Council’s contradictions will inevitably grow."

Meanwhile, President Yoon requested relevant ministries to revise subordinate laws related to the promulgation of laws protecting teachers’ rights, including the 'Teacher Status Act,' 'Elementary and Secondary Education Act,' 'Early Childhood Education Act,' and 'Framework Act on Education,' which were submitted to the Cabinet meeting that day. He said, "Through this, teachers’ rights are guaranteed, and the lawful exercise of teachers’ rights can be protected by law," adding, "In the future, proper guidance by teachers will not be regarded as a violation of child abuse prohibition acts, and disciplinary actions and punishments will be prohibited." Additionally, President Yoon urged ministers of relevant departments to thoroughly manage people’s livelihoods during the holiday period, saying, "Please do your best to stabilize prices during the holidays so that the public can actually feel the effects." He promised, "There is an old saying, 'May it always be like Chuseok.' The government will also do its best to make our people always feel as abundant and comfortable as during Chuseok."