Yoon's Statement: "I Will Never Give Up... Doing My Best for the Country Until the End" [Full Text]

Yoon's Statement Released Immediately After National Assembly Passes Impeachment Motion
"A Difficult but Rewarding Journey Paused for a While"
"Please Unite Around the Acting President"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a national address at his residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on the 14th, the day his impeachment motion was passed in the National Assembly. Photo by Yonhap News

President Yoon Suk-yeol issued a statement on the afternoon of the 14th after the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against him during the plenary session, saying, "I will never give up," and "I will do my best for the country until the very last moment."

In the statement distributed to the press corps around 6:08 p.m. that day, President Yoon said, "Now, the arduous but happy, difficult but rewarding journey has been temporarily halted," and "I am frustrated, fearing that the efforts made so far might be in vain."

He continued, "Although I am pausing for a moment now, the journey toward the future that I have walked with the people for the past two and a half years must never stop," adding, "I will never give up. I will hold all the criticisms, encouragement, and support directed at me in my heart and do my best for the country until the very last moment," he emphasized.

To public officials, President Yoon said, "These are difficult and challenging times, but I hope you will steadfastly maintain your positions and fulfill your duties," and "I hope everyone will unite around the acting presidential authority and do their utmost to protect the safety and happiness of the people."

He also urged the political circles, "I hope you will pay attention and make efforts to improve political culture and systems so that politics can shift from reckless confrontation to deliberation and consideration."

Below is the full text of President Yoon Suk-yeol's 'Message to the People'

Speaker Woo Won-shik is announcing the passage of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol at the National Assembly on the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News

Dear fellow citizens,

Watching the National Assembly pass the impeachment motion today, I recalled June 29, 2021, when I first declared my entry into politics.

The country's liberal democracy and rule of law were collapsing.

The despair of self-employed workers and the frustration of young people filled the entire nation.

With that passionate national desire, I jumped into politics.

Since then, I have never rested for a moment and have devoted all my energy to working.

After becoming president and meeting the people on the ground, I saw small business owners and self-employed workers crying out due to the previous administration's income-led growth policy, and young people and ordinary citizens suffering from excessive real estate loans.

However, when I calmly listened to their difficult situations and gradually solved problems, I felt the greatest happiness above all.

As exports revived, the economy regained vitality, and warmth gradually spread, I was encouraged.

I restored the collapsed nuclear power ecosystem and even achieved nuclear power exports.

For the future, I have desperately pushed forward the four major reforms that previous governments could not undertake for fear of electoral disadvantage.

When policies I pondered and pursued for the people were hindered, I felt burning frustration and sleepless nights. I worked tirelessly day and night to restore trilateral cooperation among Korea, the United States, and Japan and to broaden the horizons of global diplomacy.

When I traveled the world as Korea's first top salesperson and achieved results, I felt an indescribable great sense of accomplishment.

Seeing Korea's international status rise and our security and economy strengthen made me forget my fatigue.

Now, the arduous but happy, difficult but rewarding journey has been temporarily halted.

I am frustrated, fearing that the efforts made so far might be in vain.

Although I am pausing for a moment now, the journey toward the future that I have walked with the people for the past two and a half years must never stop.

I will never give up.

I will hold all the criticisms, encouragement, and support directed at me in my heart and do my best for the country until the very last moment.

To all public officials, I ask you:

These are difficult and challenging times, but I hope you will steadfastly maintain your positions and fulfill your duties.

I hope everyone will unite around the acting presidential authority and do their utmost to protect the safety and happiness of the people.

And to the political circles, I ask:

Please pay attention and make efforts to improve political culture and systems so that politics can shift from reckless confrontation to deliberation and consideration.

Dear beloved citizens,

I believe in the resilience of our people.

Let us all unite our strength for Korea's liberal democracy and prosperity.

Thank you.