Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, he said, "We proudly declare that the new Republic of Korea, a beacon for global citizens, has fully returned to the international community," and pledged to share its democratic experience with the international community.
The speech was delivered in a calm, 20-minute format, reading from a prepared script. President Lee wore a dark blue suit with a gray diagonally striped tie and a Taegeukgi badge.
He was the seventh president to take the podium, following King Abdullah II of Yeol. His speech time was longer than that of his predecessors. Former President Yoon Seok-yeol's first UN speech (15 minutes)
It was longer than the 22 minutes of the speech by former President Moon Jae-in. During the speech, he declared that the Republic of Korea would return to the international community and that he would not pursue unification by absorption or engage in hostile acts.
The audience applauded at the part where he said, "We will move forward together toward a better future." The applause continued three times in total before President Lee concluded his remarks by saying, "We will move forward toward a better future together."
President Lee said, "The 'Revolution of Light' that overcame the darkness of last winter's civil war was a historic event that demonstrated the achievement of the UN spirit."
President Lee said, "The strength of the UN will become a force that supports democracy all over the world." He linked the achievements of the UN with Korea's development, saying, "The determination of the international community 80 years ago to maintain world peace and security.
"But our hopes are not over yet. The answer lies in the path that the people of the Republic of Korea have proven to be. That is more democracy," he stressed.
The new concept presented in the speech was the "END Initiative."
This is a summary of President Lee's policy concept for Korea. Looking at the North Korean side, President Lee said, "We will respect the other side's regime, will not pursue any form of absorption unification, and will not intend any hostile acts."
He stated that the three main principles are exchange, normalization, and denuclearization.
President Lee said, "We must end the era of hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and usher in a new era of peaceful coexistence and common growth. Denuclearization will be achieved in the short term."
"This is not an issue that can be solved," he said, adding, "A step-by-step solution is needed, which involves halting the advancement of nuclear and missile capabilities, and then reducing and eliminating them." He also said that the international community needs to pool its practical wisdom.
Another key point in his speech was artificial intelligence (AI). President Lee said, "If we are passively dragged along by the changes of the AI era, we will face a dystopia of human rights violations and inequality."
"In an era where AI determines national security capabilities and cyberattacks threaten national security, we must go beyond visible enemies to confront invisible ones," he said.
He also emphasized that AI can be used to strengthen democracy and drive innovation. President Lee said, "We will build the foundation for innovation and prosperity by leveraging high productivity, and strengthen direct democracy."
President Lee also called for a discussion on responsible use of the facility in the international community.
President Lee pointed out the APEC Summit to be held in Seoul as a concrete stage for this initiative. "Through the APEC AI Initiative, the vision of the future shared by all countries is that AI will contribute to the common prosperity of humanity," he said.
"Korea will take the lead in making AI a tool for innovation for all," he said.
Addressing the climate crisis was also a core topic.
President Lee said, "It will become a new tool to solve global issues such as the global economic crisis," and introduced Korea's "great energy transition."
He also pledged to "expand our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and submit national greenhouse gas reduction targets this year." He also pledged to build solidarity for sustainable ocean development at the Fourth United Nations Ocean Conference, which will be co-hosted with Chile in 2028.
Towards the end of his speech, he mentioned the spread of K-culture and emphasized the power of diversity and empathy. President Lee said, "The success and spread of K-culture transcends differences of all backgrounds.
"The Republic of Korea, which has established a new democratic republic by gathering the energy of solidarity, coexistence and consideration, is a country that is ready to create a sustainable future and a new generation of humanity," he said.
"We are ready to move forward into history," he said. He went on to define peace as "not simply the absence of armed conflict, but the realization of a community in which we can live together while respecting differences," and stated, "We are ready to move forward into history as an international community."
"I hope that the United Nations will hold up a beacon of hope that will illuminate the future of humanity."
2025/09/24 13:47 KST
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