Address to the People from the Inauguration Ceremony of 

the 21st President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jae-myung 

Dear and respected fellow citizens,

I am Lee Jae-myung, whom you have chosen as the 21st President of the Republic of Korea.

I stand here today with a profound sense of responsibility and deep gratitude. Bearing the countless hopes and dreams entrusted to me by our 52 million citizens, I hereby take my first steps toward building a truly democratic republic as your chosen President.

The future is beckoning. It is time to revive livelihoods that have been pushed to the brink, and to restore growth that will lead to a brighter tomorrow for everyone.

It is time to restore national security and peace, which have been reduced to tools of political strife, and to rebuild people’s livelihoods and an economy shattered by apathy, incompetence, and irresponsibility. It is time to resurrect our democracy, which has been crushed by armored vehicles and assault rifles.

It is time to build a bridge of coexistence, reconciliation, and solidarity over the abyss of hatred and confrontation, and to usher in an era of happiness filled with dreams and hopes.

As author Han Kang once wrote: “The past helped the present, and the dead saved the living.” Now it is our turn to become the past that will save future generations.

I pledge the following to the people of this nation.

I will respond to the solemn call to make hope bloom from deep wounds, and to the earnest wish to build a completely new country.

Regardless of whom one supported in the recent election, I will be a president for everyone—embracing and serving every citizen—in keeping with yet another meaning of the presidency: a call for great unity.

Our country continues to write new chapters in its history.

We are the only country ever to have achieved both industrialization and democratization after being liberated from colonial rule—a nation that ranks tenth in terms of economic power and fifth in terms of military strength, and a nation that leads global culture through K-Culture.

And now, this proud nation of the East is writing a new chapter in the history of global democracy—repelling a military coup not with violence, but with glow sticks raised in a show of peaceful resistance.

The world watches in awe at the remarkable journey of our people and the great capabilities of our nation.

This Revolution of Five-Colored Light—this K-Democracy—has become a clear model for people around the world seeking a new path amid the growing crisis facing democracy.

My beloved fellow citizens, we stand at the turning point of a great transformation.

The old order is receding, a new order is emerging, and a great civilizational transformation is underway.

We now face an era of hyper-advanced science and technology, where pages turn in the x-blink of an eye in the AI-driven age of infinite competition.

The climate crisis that threatens all humanity is driving a major industrial transformation. Rising protectionism and the realignment of supply chains amid turbulent international dynamics threaten our very survival.

Yet if we lead change instead of being dragged along behind it, we can seize limitless opportunities. Tragically, however, at this critical moment we face a multifaceted, tangled crisis in every domain—whether it be people’s livelihoods, the economy, foreign affairs, security, or democracy. Korea’s present and future are both under threat.

Reviving the lives of our weary citizens, restoring democracy and peace, reactivating growth, and restoring national dignity will require unimaginable amounts of sweat, tears, and perseverance. But like a June rose that finds the sun and blooms even in the shadow of a wall, our people have found a way forward amid chaos and despair.

Guided by the will of the sovereign people, we will press forward—overcoming rugged mountains and pushing through thorny brambles if need be. We will begin by restoring livelihoods and reviving the economy. With the resolve to wage a decisive battle against the recession, I will immediately activate an Emergency Economic Task Force. We will use public finances as a priming force to restart the virtuous cycle of the economy.

Under my leadership, the newly launched Democratic administration will be a just and inclusive government—pragmatic and flexible in all its deeds and operations. Unity is a great mark of competence; division is the result of incompetence. It is only political forces that lack the ability and will to improve people's lives that divide the public and sow hatred and discord in order to preserve their grip on power.

I will become a president who puts an end to divisive politics. With national unity as our driving force, we will overcome this crisis.

We will recover what has been lost to insurrection—livelihoods, the economy, security, peace, and democracy—and build a society of sustainable growth and development. A rebellion that seizes the people’s sovereignty with the very weapons entrusted by the people must never be allowed to happen again. We will conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the truth, hold those responsible fully accountable, and establish firm safeguards to prevent any recurrence. We will restore dialogue and communication grounded in the values of coexistence and unity, and will revive a politics rooted in compromise and mutual concession.

Let us consign outdated ideologies to the museum of history. From now on, there will be no “progressive” problem or “conservative” problem. From now on, there are only the problems of the people—and the problems of the Republic of Korea.

If a policy of Park Chung-hee or Kim Dae-jung is necessary and effective, we will adopt it without distinction. The Lee Jae-myung administration will be a pragmatic, market-oriented government. We will not be a government that controls and manages, but one that supports and encourages.

To guarantee flourishing, creative and proactive business activities, we will shift to a regulatory x-framework centered on negative regulation. We will provide strong support to ensure that entrepreneurs can freely start businesses, grow, and compete in the global markets.

But we will never allow a society where breaking the rules leads to profit while following them results in harm—whether through threats to public safety, violations of workers’ rights, exploitation of the vulnerable, or unfair practices like stock manipulation that undermine the market order.

Innovation and new growth are only possible in a country where the basic conditions of life are guaranteed for all, and where a strong social safety net makes bold challenges possible. Both individuals and the nation must grow in order to share.

Through pragmatic, national-interest-driven diplomacy, we will turn the sweeping transformation of the global economic and security landscape into an opportunity to maximize our national interest.

We will reinforce Korea–U.S. relations as a foundation, strengthen Korea–U.S.–Japan cooperation, and approach relations with neighboring countries from a pragmatic, interest-based perspective. Furthermore, we will broaden our diplomatic horizons, enhance Korea’s global standing, and expand our economic footprint around the world.

Dear fellow citizens,

The great “Revolution of Light” calls upon us not only to end insurrection, but to build a radiant new nation. I solemnly accept the people’s mandate to create a new Korea of hope.

First, we will build a nation that is truly governed by its people. Korea is a democratic republic where sovereignty resides with the people. I will remain connected with the people at all times and build a true republic where your sovereign will is reflected in everyday governance. We will steadfastly pursue the grand reform agenda in the raised in the Plaza of Light.

Second, we will become a vigorously growing nation once again. Widening inequalities in opportunity and resources, along with growing disparities and polarization, are fueling a vicious cycle that hinders growth. As opportunities shrink in this era of low growth, cooperative competition has given way to a zero-sum struggle—where one can survive only if another falls. Young people, driven into cut-throat competition, have even been pitted against each other along gender lines. In a society where failure in competition can mean social death, inequality has met with divisive politics—and together they have bred an extremism that threatens the very fabric of our society.

We will create new engines of growth, and fair growth—in which opportunities and outcomes are shared—and will open the door to a better world. Just as a generation of parents, though poor, sold their farmland to educate their children and built today’s Korea, the government will step up to prepare for the future by providing the necessary support and investment. We will make bold investments in, and provide strong support for, cutting-edge industries such as AI and semiconductors, propelling Korea to become a global industrial powerhouse that leads the future.

To address the climate crisis and align with the global trend, we will pursue a swift transition to a renewable energy–centered society. As well as reducing energy imports and preparing for RE100, we will enhance corporate competitiveness and revive local regions at risk of depopulation by building a dense national renewable energy grid that enables energy production anywhere in the country.

Third, we will build a country where everyone can prosper. Korea’s rapid ascent to a top-10 global economy was driven by concentrated investment in selected regions, industries, and social groups—an unbalanced development strategy adopted under conditions of limited resources. But that strategy has now reached its limit, and inequality-driven polarization is blocking further growth.

Sustainable growth now requires a fundamental shift in our development strategy. We must pursue balanced regional development, fair growth, and a more just society.

We must move beyond concentration in the capital region, foster an industrial ecosystem where large, medium, and small enterprises, as well as startups, can cooperate organically, and make the transition to a society free from privilege and favoritism. Sharing both the opportunities and rewards of growth is the only path toward sustainable development. Just as growth and distribution are not in conflict with each other, but rather complement each other, business advancement and respect for labor can absolutely go hand in hand.

Fourth, we will make Korea a nation where culture flourishes. "The one thing I yearn to possess is the power of a noble culture," said Baekbeom Kim Gu. That dream is now becoming a reality.

From K-pop and K-dramas to K-films, K-beauty, and K-food, Korean culture is captivating the world. Culture is now the economy. Culture is a source of global competitiveness.

We must channel the global popularity of Korean culture into the growth of our cultural industries and the creation of high-quality jobs. To that end, we will further expand Korea’s cultural industries.

With active support for the arts and culture, we will become a cultural powerhouse that sets new global standards—and rise as one of the world’s top five soft power nations.

Fifth, we will build a safe and peaceful nation. Safety and peace are the foundation of the people’s happiness. Safety is sustenance; peace is prosperity. We will thoroughly uncover the truth behind major social disasters—such as the Sewol ferry tragedy, the Itaewon crowd crush, and the Osong underpass flooding—and build a society where the lives and property of our citizens are never put at risk.

We will heal the wounds of division and war, and chart the way to a future of peace and prosperity. No matter how costly, peace is always better than war. It is better to win without fighting—and best of all, to build a peace where fighting is never necessary.

With a defense budget that is twice the size of North Korea’s GDP, our new status as the world’s fifth-ranked military power, and the deterrent power of the Korea–U.S. alliance, we will counter North Korea’s nuclear and military threats. At the same time, we will reopen channels of communication and pursue dialogue and cooperation to establish lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

We will restore the honor of the military and the public’s trust—both of which have been damaged by the unlawful imposition of martial law—and ensure that the armed forces are never again used for political ends.

My dear fellow citizens, whom I love and respect,

Through countless life-or-death trials, I have held fast to one belief—faith in the people. It is your guidance that has brought me to this point.

Now, I will follow the mission you have entrusted to me and seek out hope. Our people have always been strongest when united—and when united, we have overcome every hardship.

In defiance of Japanese oppression, we launched the March 1st Movement and established the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. From the pain of division and the devastation of war, we achieved a national rebirth and industrialization that astonished the whole world.

We won democracy by resisting a harsh dictatorship and reclaimed popular sovereignty through two unprecedented, peaceful revolutions.

With the extraordinary strength of our people, there is no crisis we cannot overcome.

Korea is a nation that leads the world with the power of a noble culture, drives change with advanced technology, and stands as a global model through its exemplary democracy. When Korea leads, it sets the standard for the world.

Fellow citizens,

Recovery and growth must ultimately serve one sole purpose, namely, the happiness of the people who own this land. Let us build a true democratic republic where the full capacity of the state is devoted to the people.

Let us move beyond our differences, recognize and respect one another, and march together toward a true Korea—a nation of, by, and for the people, where the people are sovereign and happiness belongs to all.

You—who resisted an armed insurrection and opened the path to a brighter world with the light of hope—are the true heroes of this historic journey.

As your faithful servant, and as the representative entrusted with the lives of 52 million citizens and the future of this nation, I will carry out the responsibilities of the 21st President with utmost sincerity and devotion.

Thank you!