South Korea Acting President: "Ruling and Opposition Parties and Government Must Change... Devoted Efforts for Progress on National Issues"

First Public Address After Returning as Acting President
"All Decisions Will Be Based on the Interests of Future Generations"
"I Earnestly Request Bipartisan Cooperation from Both Ruling and Opposition Parties"

Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo said in his first public address after returning to duty on the 24th, "The ruling and opposition parties and the government must truly change," adding, "I will devote myself wholeheartedly to ensuring that bipartisan cooperation can steadily and swiftly advance major national issues that naturally require it."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, acting president, who returned to duty after the Constitutional Court dismissed the impeachment, is delivering a public address at the Government Seoul Office on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

In his public address at the Government Seoul Office that morning, Acting President Han said, "If there is one thing we have clearly witnessed and learned over the past few years, it is that a society divided to extremes only leads to misfortune and fails to fulfill anyone's dreams."

He continued, "During the 88 days my duties were suspended, I deeply contemplated two things," and said, "First, when I returned to my position to fulfill my final duty, I reflected on what urgent tasks must be addressed for the Republic of Korea."

He added, "The world is now facing intensified US-China hegemony competition with the inauguration of President Trump, along with new geopolitical shifts and the reorganization of the economic order," emphasizing, "As Acting President, I will do my utmost to ensure stable governance according to the Constitution and laws, while pouring all my wisdom and capabilities into securing our national interests amid the ongoing trade war that has already become a reality."

He further stated, "During the remaining period, I will base all my decisions on the interests of Korean industry and future generations," and said, "The entire cabinet will work alongside me."

Acting President Han said, "The second question I pondered during the past 88 days was how the Republic of Korea must change."

He said, "Since entering public service in 1970, I have vividly witnessed the rise of our country's industry and trade as it stands today, and have also seen the success of democratization and the emergence of a culturally strong nation." He added, "There are countries larger, stronger, and wealthier than ours in this world, but I believe it is rare to find a country that has strived as fiercely as we have."

He continued, "Although our people are currently experiencing many conflicts, I believe everyone shares the desire for our homeland, the Republic of Korea, which we have painstakingly built, to continue prospering and developing," emphasizing, "To achieve that, we must change."

Acting President Han said, "The vast majority of our people, whom I have served for nearly 50 years, did not want the country to lean to the left or the right," adding, "They only wished for it to move 'upward,' forward, and onward."

He said, "To lead the Republic of Korea into an era of reason and common sense, I will listen to all voices with the sole focus on the country and all its people," and added, "I earnestly ask for bipartisan cooperation from the ruling and opposition parties so that Korea can overcome the current crisis and once again leap upward and forward."