Yoon: "Unification, a Crucial Historical Task... Liberation Incomplete While Division Persists" (Comprehensive)

Presentation of Unification Vision and Promotion Plan in Liberation Day Speech
Proposal to Establish Working-Level 'Dialogue Consultative Body' Between South and North Authorities
"North Korean Residents Will Become Strong Allies for Free Unification"
"A New Era of 'Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Unified Korea'"

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a congratulatory speech at the 79th Liberation Day Celebration held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 15th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 15th, "There is a crucial historical task that we must absolutely resolve ahead of us," adding, "That is unification." He also proposed the establishment of a working-level 'dialogue consultative body' between the South and North Korean authorities, saying, "It can address any issues, including tension reduction, economic cooperation, human exchanges, cultural exchanges, and responses to disasters and climate change."

At the 79th Liberation Day celebration held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul, President Yoon said, "Complete liberation will only be realized on the day when a free democratic unified state, where the people of the entire Korean Peninsula are the masters, is established."

President Yoon said, "Since the loss of our national sovereignty until today, our people have written a truly great history," emphasizing, "The value that runs through this great journey is freedom." He added, "Our liberation was the fruit of the struggle for freedom," and stressed, "Even in the bleak situation of losing national sovereignty, our people did not give up."

He continued, "Now, South Korea has leapt beyond dazzling economic growth to become a global pivotal country and a global cultural powerhouse," and asserted, "Neither imperialist forces' seizure of sovereignty, division, war, nor anything else could stop our vigorous advance toward freedom."

In particular, he stated, "Complete liberation still remains an unfinished task for us," and declared that unification is a crucial historical task that must be resolved.

"A Free Democratic Unified State of the Entire Korean Peninsula, Realization of Liberation"

President Yoon said, "In 1919, our people began efforts to establish a free democratic state where the people of the Korean Peninsula are the masters," adding, "Although liberation came with Japan's defeat in 1945, as long as the division system continues, our liberation can only be incomplete." He continued, "The kingdom of frozen land deprived of freedom, the northern land suffering from poverty and hunger must see the expansion of the freedom we enjoy," emphasizing, "Only on the day when a free democratic unified state, where the people of the entire Korean Peninsula are the masters, is established, will complete liberation be realized."

President Yoon said, "Based on the constitutional duty of free democracy and peaceful unification assigned to the president, I intend to declare our vision for unification and unification promotion strategies to our people, North Korean residents, and the international community," adding, "The future of the unified Republic of Korea that we dream of is clear."

On this day, President Yoon presented the three major visions for unification, three major strategies for unification promotion, and seven major unification promotion plans.

As the three major visions for unification, President Yoon explained, "▲ A happy country where the people's freedom and safety are guaranteed ▲ A strong and prosperous country leaping forward through creativity and innovation ▲ A country leading harmony and development in the international community and contributing to world peace and prosperity. This is the future of the unified Republic of Korea."

As the three major strategies to advance toward a unified Republic of Korea, he cited ▲ the need for the people to firmly hold the values and capabilities to pursue free unification ▲ creating changes so that North Korean residents earnestly desire free unification ▲ and solidarity with the international community.

The seven major unification promotion plans include ▲ revitalizing unification programs ▲ multidimensional efforts to improve North Korean human rights ▲ expanding North Korean residents' 'right to access information' ▲ promoting humanitarian aid to guarantee the survival rights of North Korean residents ▲ reflecting the role of North Korean defectors in unification capabilities ▲ proposing the establishment of a 'dialogue consultative body' between South and North Korean authorities ▲ and creating an 'International Korean Peninsula Forum' to garner international support for free unification.

President Yoon urged, "We ourselves must have a stronger conviction in the value of freedom," adding, "Only by firmly protecting the freedom within us can we become the leading force in promoting free democratic unification."

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a congratulatory speech and announces the '8.15 Unification Doctrine' at the 79th Liberation Day Celebration held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 15th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, President Yoon emphasized that indulgence and irresponsibility that disregard order and norms should not be confused with freedom. He pointed out, "False agitation and pseudo-logic based on fake news are terrifying weapons that disrupt free society," and said, "Fake news has now become a large-scale industry."

"Pseudo-intellectuals package fake news as products and distribute them, forming vested interest groups," he criticized, adding, "Pseudo-intellectuals and agitators fail to present the values and visions we should truly pursue." He continued, "They only obsess over dividing the people through agitation and fabrication and enjoying benefits in the gaps," saying, "These are the anti-freedom and anti-unification forces blocking our future."

President Yoon promised, "Freedom is something earned through struggle. It is never obtained automatically," and said, "Myself and the government will do everything possible to protect the value of freedom in our society."

Yoon: "Accelerate Reforms in Education, Labor, Pension, and Healthcare"

President Yoon emphasized, "Under the private-led market economy framework, we will do our best so that companies can freely operate and create many quality jobs, allowing the people to enjoy more opportunities for employment and economic activities," adding, "We will accelerate reforms in education, labor, pension, and healthcare to make our society more fair and healthy."

He also said, "We will expand tailored welfare support focusing on those in difficulty and take warmer care of the people's lives to protect and expand the freedom of all citizens," adding, "Through this, we will deepen the roots of the value of freedom in our society and protect our people from false agitation by dark forces."

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee are observing a moment of silence with Lee Dong-il, chairman of the Patriotic Martyrs' Families Association, and other attendees at the 79th Liberation Day Celebration held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 15th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon stated, "Our people must be strongly armed with the value of freedom and a sense of responsibility to lead free unification on the Korean Peninsula," and added, "We will provide a future-oriented 'advanced field-type unification education program' so that youth and future generations can have expectations and dreams of free unification."

He particularly emphasized the task of caring for and changing North Korean residents so that they strongly desire free unification. President Yoon mentioned, "We must be more proactive in expanding the value of freedom to the North and bringing about substantial changes in North Korea," and said, "Above all, we will carry out multidimensional efforts for the substantial improvement of North Korean human rights."

Promotion of International Conference on North Korean Human Rights and North Korean Freedom and Human Rights Fund

He also pointed out the importance of accurately informing the people and the international community about the realities of North Korean human rights abuses. President Yoon said, "One reason we published the 'Annual North Korean Human Rights Report' for the first time since our government took office is for this purpose," adding, "We will cooperate with domestic and international NGOs, allied countries, and international organizations to widely publicize North Korea's human rights violations and continuously urge improvements." To this end, he promised to promote an 'International Conference on North Korean Human Rights' and establish a 'North Korean Freedom and Human Rights Fund' to actively support private activities that promote freedom and human rights for North Korean residents.

President Yoon said, "We will continue to provide humanitarian aid to guarantee the survival rights of North Korean residents," adding, "Although the North Korean regime refused relief supplies for flood victims on August 1, we will not give up humanitarian aid." He stated that humanitarian aid, including food and healthcare, will be actively promoted for vulnerable groups such as infants, women, the elderly, and the disabled in North Korea.

He stressed the importance of awakening North Korean residents to the value of freedom. President Yoon emphasized, "If more North Korean residents realize that free unification is the only way to improve their lives and gain confidence that the unified Republic of Korea will embrace them, they will become strong allies of free unification."

He also said that it is necessary to instill the dream and hope of free unification in North Korea's future generations. To this end, he plans to expand the 'right to access information' so that North Korean residents can access external information through various channels.

Yoon: "Will Incorporate the Role of North Korean Defectors into Unification Capabilities"

He continued, "The government will properly protect North Korean defectors and incorporate their roles into unification capabilities," adding, "We will actively reflect the experiences and knowledge of defectors who have experienced both South and North Korea in the formulation and promotion of unification policies, making them valuable assets to open the future of the unified Republic of Korea."

President Yoon said, "We will keep the door to inter-Korean dialogue wide open. Inter-Korean dialogue should not be a showy political event but a substantive venue to discuss peace guarantees and improvements in the lives of our people and North Korean residents," proposing the establishment of a working-level 'dialogue consultative body' between South and North Korean authorities. He explained that this consultative body could address any issues, including tension reduction, economic cooperation, human exchanges, cultural exchanges, and responses to disasters and climate change, as well as humanitarian issues such as separated families, Korean War prisoners of war, abductees, and detainees.

President Yoon urged, "If North Korea takes even the first step toward denuclearization, we will immediately start political and economic cooperation," and called on the North Korean authorities to respond so that substantial progress in inter-Korean relations can be achieved through dialogue and cooperation.

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a congratulatory speech at the 79th Liberation Day Celebration held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 15th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Establishment of the 'International Korean Peninsula Forum'... Solidarity with the International Community for Unification

He promised to put more effort into solidarity with the international community. President Yoon said, "Just as our division was a product of international politics, unification will not be easy to achieve alone," adding, "We must widely spread the belief that the unified Republic of Korea will be a country contributing to world peace and prosperity to the international community."

President Yoon emphasized, "We will work harder to garner international support for free unification. To this end, we will establish the 'International Korean Peninsula Forum' together with like-minded countries," adding, "We will strive to solidify freedom solidarity with allies and friendly countries and build consensus on our unification."

He said, "In the unified Republic of Korea, we will enjoy greater freedom and opportunities, and furthermore, it will be a message of blessing to all of human society," and declared, "Myself and the government will make 2024 a new starting point toward the 'Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Unified Republic of Korea.'"

Finally, he added, "To move toward a unified Republic of Korea, we must become stronger," and said, "We must achieve greater historical progress by confronting internal and external challenges threatening our freedom. Let us join hands firmly and move forward vigorously toward a greater Korea, a unified Korea!"