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President Yoon Suk-yeol takes the oath of office at his inauguration ceremony on May 10. (pool photo)

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared his plans Tuesday to make South Korea “a country that truly belongs to the people; a country based on the pillars of freedom, human rights, fairness and solidarity.”

While he used the word “freedom” 35 times in his inaugural address, he did not make any mention of “unity” aimed at relieving political and social polarization and overcoming the economic crisis. Observers read this as foreshadowing a policy focus that prioritizes free markets and growth.

In his inauguration ceremony held on the lawn of the National Assembly building in Seoul’s Yeouido neighborhood at 11 am that day, Yoon remarked, “It is our generation's calling to build a nation that espouses liberal democracy and ensures a thriving market economy, a nation that fulfills its responsibility as a trusted member of the international community, and a nation that truly belongs to the people.”

Referring to his listeners as “global citizens,” he also stressed South Korea’s role as a “global leader,” announcing plans to make Korea a “country that is respected by others around the world,” saying, “Let us embark on this journey together.”

Yoon also declared that democracy was in crisis, a situation he attributed to “anti-intellectualism.”

“Domestically, Korea is experiencing record-low growth and rising unemployment, [. . .] an ever-widening gap in wages and polarization within society,” Yoon said. “Internal strife and discord are deepening which has led many of our fellow citizens to lose their sense of community and belonging.”

“The political process, which has the responsibility to address and resolve these issues, has failed due to a crisis in democracy,” he continued.

“Truth is grossly distorted because of animosity between different groups within society,” Yoon said. “When we choose to see only what we want to see and hear only what we want to hear; when the masses silence those who do not agree with them — this is how anti-intellectualism gravely imperils our democracy.”

He went on to stress the importance of “freedom” as a “universal value” in resolving these issues.

“Human history shows that when political and market freedom reigns supreme, that is where prosperity and abundance flourished,” he said.

“Prosperity, abundance, and economic growth — these represent freedom’s expansion,” he added.

Yoon also said that “progress and rapid growth” would be essential in resolving “excessive polarization and social conflict.” In his remarks, he stressed that markets, freedom, and growth would need to be prioritized to address global challenges and the political, economic, and social polarization resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors.

On the topic of North Korea, Yoon left open the possibility of dialogue but stressed that this would be contingent on denuclearization — reiterating a similar concept to the Lee Myung-bak administration’s “Vision 3000.”

“If North Korea genuinely embarks on a process to complete denuclearization, we are prepared to cooperate with the international community to present an audacious plan that will vastly strengthen North Korea’s economy and improve the quality of life for its people,” he said.

After the inauguration ceremony, Yoon went to his office in Seoul’s Yongsan neighborhood where he met with envoys visiting to share messages of congratulation, including Douglas Emhoff, who is the husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris, and Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi. He also met the same day with Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, who shared a message from President Xi Jinping inviting Yoon to China.

Yoon had previously kicked off his official duties as president at midnight with a report from the Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters at the national crisis management center situation room at his presidential office in Yongsan. Returning to his home in Seoul’s Seocho neighborhood after the transfer of his supreme military command authority, he departed with first lady Kim Keon-hee for his first day of work at around 9:50 am amid a welcome from neighborhood residents.

By Seo Young-ji, staff reporter; Kim Mi-na, staff reporter; Bae Ji-hyun, staff reporter

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