Yoon: "Forces Dividing the People to Gain Benefits Everywhere... Reform Also Means National Unity"

"Advancing the Four Major Reforms, We Will Not Stop Moving Forward"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Performance Report Meeting and the 3rd Launch Ceremony of the Presidential Commission on National Integration held at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul on the 13th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 13th, "To protect the value of freedom, we must firmly defend our liberal system against forces that seek to destroy it," adding, "Currently, there are many attempts in our society to disrupt political, economic, and social systems through fake news and false agitation, aiming to overthrow the liberal democratic system."

That afternoon, President Yoon presided over the 'National Integration Committee Performance Report and 3rd Term Launch Ceremony' at the Presidential Office, saying, "On the surface, there are forces that put forward plausible causes such as human rights, environment, and peace, but in reality, they seek to divide the people and benefit from the gaps created," emphasizing this point.

He continued, "We cannot call it integration if we simply tolerate those who seek to dismantle the liberal system," and stressed, "Protecting our society from these forces and upholding the constitutional spirit, which is our shared value, is the true path to achieving integration."

The National Integration Committee was launched in July 2022 as the first presidential advisory committee under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration to alleviate social conflicts and promote the value of national integration. The first term of the committee focused on 'youth' and 'socially vulnerable groups,' and the second term on 'companionship,' forming a total of 21 special committees that proposed 537 policy alternatives to the government. The newly launched third term will address timely issues ranging from chronic social conflicts such as political regionalism, economic polarization, and demographic changes to future challenges.

In his opening remarks, President Yoon explained, "Integration is mediated by shared values. We have the constitutional spirit as a common value and mechanism for integration," adding, "Ultimately, true integration is achieved by complementing and realizing the constitutional spirit of a free market economy and liberal democracy, and our prosperity is built upon this integration."

He also said, "To protect the value of freedom, those who pursue freedom must help each other. To become true free individuals, conditions must be met where one can enjoy abundant opportunities and develop oneself without deficiency," and added, "Economic, educational, and cultural conditions accessible to everyone are necessary, but since no society perfectly fulfills these, what is needed is philanthropy and social solidarity, and at the national level, welfare policies."

President Yoon stated, "The reason the government focuses more on welfare for the vulnerable rather than populist welfare despite limited finances is because this ultimately expands the value of freedom and leads to integration," and requested, "I ask the Integration Committee to put more effort into accompanying the vulnerable."

He also urged that the women's issues, which the third term committee will address as an important agenda, be examined from the perspective of social solidarity. President Yoon said, "The economic participation rate of our women does not reach the average of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and it is still difficult to balance work and family," adding, "We must create a society where men and women, regardless of gender, can freely develop their selves beyond mere welfare."

In particular, President Yoon emphasized that to fundamentally solve the structural problems of our society, the government is vigorously pushing forward the four major reforms in pensions, healthcare, education, and labor without retreating in the face of anti-reform resistance.

He pointed out, "Reforms always face resistance, and currently, anti-reform resistance continues in many places. Cartels join hands to block the path to reform to protect their common interests," adding, "If we retreat here again, it will be difficult to expect a bright future for the country." He continued, "Reform is ultimately a step toward a greater future of national integration," and promised, "I and the government will not stop the steps of reform while defending the value of freedom."

Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Integration Committee, said, "In the 3rd term committee, we will properly address women's issues in our society," adding, "If you were to pick a representative sentiment commonly felt by women of all ages in our country, it would probably be anxiety. We will seek ways for women to be free from the burdens of caregiving and fears of career interruption."

At the meeting, 23 civilian members including Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Integration Committee, and Lee Hae-seon, Chair of the Planning Subcommittee, attended. From the government side, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, Minister of Science and ICT Yoo Sang-im, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo, and Financial Services Commission Chairman Kim Byung-hwan were present. From the Presidential Office, Policy Chief Seong Tae-yoon and Senior Secretary for Civil Society Jeon Gwang-sam also attended.