Sukyeol Yoon has started his presidential duty as the 20th president of the nation on May 10. Taking the steering wheel for the next 5 years, Yoon emphasized freedom, human rights, fairness and solidarity in his inaugural speech taken place in the front yard of the National Assembly building Yeouido Seoul. 

Some of the notable guests on the day were: outgoing president Jaein Moon and his spouse, former president Geunhye Park, Singaporean President Halimah Yacob, the Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Tousdera, the Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, former Indonesian President Megawati Setiawati Sukamoputri, the second gentleman of the United States Doublas Craig, the Canadian Speaker of the Senate George Furey and the Japanese Foreign Affiars Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. Following is the excepts of his inaugural speech:

I have stood on this podium today to start my responsibility and duty of rebuilding the nation for no other but the people based on liberal democracy and market economy and rationalism and intellectualism. 

The world is facing the aftermath of the pandemic, changes to the trade environment, climate change, food and energy crisis and lack of peaceful solutions to conflicts which need cooperate participation of the world. 

Many countries including South Korea also are suffering from breaking up of solidarity due to super-growth, large scale unemployment and polarization. I call this ‘crisis of democracy’. I want to point out ‘anti-intellectualism’ that contributes most to this social conflicts. In order to bring harmony between people who have different opinions, we must think and act rationally that I think is the pillar of democracy.

Freedom is not about a game of winner takes it all but it comes from fair economy, education, culture and opportunity. Looking back in history, countries prospered where there was freedom of political rights and freedom of trade. 

Prosperity, productivity and economic growth is but expansion of freedom. All members of society should think and act accordingly and fight to keep it from any violation in order to secure freedom. 

Science, technology and innovation will make us protect liberal democracy, spread freedom and sustain dignity of our life. Science technology and innovation cannot be achieved by our own effort but by cooperation with fellow citizens of the world. <PowerKorea>