President Lee Jae-myung stated on September 22 during his keynote address at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York that South Korea will take the lead in restoring the spirit of the UN and reconnecting the world.
He proposed the 'K-Initiative,' which focuses on a global AI basic society, a green transition, and international energy supply chain cooperation. He also suggested a 'coalition of constructive contributors' for countries willing to collaborate on shared challenges.
Regarding the Korean Peninsula, he urged for the swift resumption of US-North Korea dialogue and outlined a stepwise approach to denuclearization, progressing from halting the enhancement of nuclear and missile capabilities to medium-term reductions and ultimately achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. He presented three key visions for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, centered on mutual respect, crisis management, and contributions to global peace.
Below is the full text of President Lee's keynote address at the 81st UN General Assembly.
First, I would like to express my gratitude and respect to the member states of the UN and the UN staff who are dedicated to the future of humanity.
I sincerely congratulate Khalilur Rahman on his inauguration as the President of the 81st General Assembly and extend my appreciation and respect for the efforts of Secretary-General António Guterres over the past decade.
Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, and representatives of various countries,
the history of the UN, which has upheld human dignity and paved the way for future generations, is now facing a serious test.
The glacial floods in Nepal have claimed numerous lives and destroyed homes, starkly illustrating that the climate crisis is a pressing issue today.
Armed conflicts around the world, including in Ukraine and the Middle East, threaten humanity's survival.
New technologies, including drones, are rapidly changing the nature of warfare and posing serious challenges to human rights and the international legal order.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are undermining the fundamental principle of 'free and safe navigation' and significantly increasing the instability of energy supply chains.
"The UN was established not to take us to heaven, but to save us from hell," said Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the UN.
In light of this statement, we must ask ourselves:
Is the UN truly saving humanity from war, poverty, and disaster today? Are we genuinely fulfilling the promise of maintaining peace and achieving sustainable development?
Ironically, the geopolitical crises brought about by upheavals in the international order remind us of the invaluable assets of multilateral cooperation and international norms.
In an era of fierce competition for immediate survival, the values of cooperation, coexistence, and solidarity may sound hollow.
However, just as the pioneers who designed the UN amid the ravages of war did, we must return to the fundamental spirit of the UN, especially as crises deepen.
A year ago, I proudly declared that our Republic of Korea had returned to the international community as a beacon for global citizens.
Today, I want to clearly express our bold commitment that South Korea, standing on the solidarity of the international community, will take the lead in restoring the spirit of the UN and reconnecting the world.
The global spread of K-Culture proves that universal empathy among humanity is possible and demonstrates the potential for connection.
Stories and content originating from Korea have become a 'language of solidarity' that transcends borders.
Just as culture connects people, nations can also reconnect in the face of common challenges.
Our Republic of Korea aims to expand the power of empathy and solidarity confirmed in the cultural realm into a force for solving humanity's shared challenges.
I would like to outline three visions of the 'K-Initiative' that will turn this promise into reality.
First, a 'Global AI Basic Society.'
The AI revolution presents both a significant opportunity and a crisis for humanity. It is a key driver for new prosperity and sustainable development, but without proper preparation, inequality and imbalance will undoubtedly worsen.
Particularly, the rapid pace of change is causing anxiety among young people worldwide regarding jobs and their futures.
The standard we must establish for this new era is clear: an 'AI Basic Society' where everyone can share the benefits of technological advancement.
Starting with 'AI Basic Healthcare,' South Korea is promoting a comprehensive AI transition that guarantees basic rights across various aspects of life, including social security, labor, housing, and culture.
This aligns with the core spirit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which emphasize 'leaving no one behind.'
We aim to leverage the AI revolution as a new driving force to accelerate the realization of economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR).
To share this vision with the international community, South Korea will establish a platform for collaboration among international organizations, multilateral development banks, industry, and academia, called the 'Global AI Hub.'
Our Republic of Korea dreams of a 'Global AI Basic Society' where no country or individual is excluded from the fundamental benefits of AI, and we will take the lead in ensuring that AI becomes a powerful tool for solving common challenges such as the climate crisis, health, food, and refugee issues.
Second, the 'Green Transition.'
The climate crisis is often described as a group project involving 8 billion people. It is a problem that cannot be solved by the efforts of any one country alone, and a growth-abandoning approach will not encourage many countries to participate.
South Korea has set a '2035 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target' and is actively participating in climate crisis responses centered on the Paris Agreement and the UN.
At the same time, we will change our industrial structure through the 'Korean Green Transition (K-GX) Strategy,' paving the way for a virtuous cycle where carbon neutrality leads to new growth drivers and quality jobs.
We will generously share the experiences and achievements gained in this process with the international community and lead discussions on sustainable marine development through the '4th UN Ocean Conference' co-hosted with Chile in 2028.
Third, solidarity for a global energy supply chain.
The recent maritime blockades in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea starkly illustrate how the weaponization of key energy and logistics routes can profoundly disrupt daily life for people worldwide.
The freedom and safety of navigation in international straits are rights guaranteed by international law and are a solid foundation supporting the global economy.
Attacking commercial vessels and threatening the lives and safety of crew members can never be justified for any reason.
South Korea will actively utilize existing cooperation frameworks, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), while strengthening energy supply chain cooperation to prevent supply chain crises from escalating into global economic and livelihood crises.
Naturally, these challenges cannot be solved by South Korea alone. However, we cannot afford to wait idly until all countries agree on a single solution.
The most necessary and realistic approach now is for countries with the capacity and willingness to provide global public goods to first join hands and expand the space for cooperation.
I would like to call this 'coalition of constructive contributors.'
This is not about creating exclusive organizations or groups. It is about respecting the existing international order and the functions of the UN while cooperating flexibly and openly in areas where each country has strengths, gradually expanding the scope of collaboration.
When the results of such 'separate yet together' cooperation accumulate, we can restore our trust in multilateralism, overcoming geopolitical competition, stalemates, and fragmentation.
The UN must also change to keep pace with the changing times.
Agreements reached in meetings must lead to changes on the ground, and global citizens should be able to feel the results in their lives.
We must reduce redundancy in organizations and projects, make decision-making more rapid, and concentrate limited resources on the most urgent needs.
South Korea supports the 'UN 80 Initiative' for a more efficient, field-oriented UN that produces more results.
We also actively support Security Council reforms to make it operate more effectively, democratically, and responsibly.
South Korea will fulfill its responsibilities and roles to create tangible results that global citizens can feel across the three pillars of the UN: peace, development, and human rights.
Through the 'Busan Global Partnership Forum,' we will support inclusive growth and share historical experiences like the Saemaul Movement, continuing sustainable and innovative investments.
Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, and representatives of various countries,
our Republic of Korea is a country that understands the changes the UN has brought about in terms of peace on the Korean Peninsula better than anyone.
Thirty-five years ago, the North and South became UN member states together right here. This was a pivotal moment that laid the groundwork for peaceful coexistence, breaking away from the competition and confrontation that had persisted since the division.
Last year, I announced at this venue that we would embark on a new journey toward 'peaceful coexistence and joint growth on the Korean Peninsula.'
Today, at this juncture of that new journey, I wish to declare three blueprints for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula before the international community.
First, inclusive peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect. We will seek joint growth through cooperation while respecting each other's systems and acknowledging differences between the North and South.
On the international stage, we will respect the North and cooperate where we can, hoping to open pathways for collaboration on health, disaster response, and climate crises at the international level.
Second, stable peaceful coexistence where fighting is unnecessary. We will create institutional mechanisms to prevent crises and manage conflicts.
Restoring basic communication channels and building trust will be the first steps toward stable peaceful coexistence.
Third, responsible peaceful coexistence that contributes to global peace.
We will actively participate in efforts to promote stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia, moving beyond a war-free and nuclear-free Korean Peninsula toward a world free from war and conflict.
Above all, the most critical task is to end the long-standing war on the Korean Peninsula and establish a peace regime.
The peace regime on the Korean Peninsula has been a core issue that has long resonated with both the North and South, as well as relevant countries like the United States and China.
Fortunately, recent decisions by President Trump have created a difficult opportunity for change.
South Korea will work to ensure that the long-stalled US-North Korea dialogue resumes quickly and lays the groundwork for dialogue among the parties to end the war on the Korean Peninsula and transition to a peace regime.
Dialogue for establishing a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula will not only normalize relations among the parties but also serve as a valuable framework for promoting joint growth and stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia.
In this process, we believe we can first halt the North's enhancement of nuclear and missile capabilities, then proceed to medium-term reductions, and ultimately move toward a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
The UN, which created a decisive moment for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula 35 years ago, and the Security Council, which has maintained peace and stability in the international community, are expected to play a responsible and constructive role once again.
Our government will do its utmost to open and continue the path of dialogue as a party and peacemaker for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, and representatives of various countries,
the true achievements of the UN are not proven by numbers or graphs in reports or declarations made in conference rooms.
When the sounds of gunfire cease, and children's laughter returns, when young people have opportunities for learning, work, and challenges, and when anyone, anywhere in the world can choose the life they desire, the reason for the UN's existence will be firmly established.
In 2015, the international community adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a collective promise toward a brighter future.
As 2030 approaches, we must prepare a new future for the next generation.
In this process, young people, as the future generation, must become co-designers who organize problems, design solutions, and lead implementation together.
We must widen the doors for participation and communication so that the voices of youth are more reflected in international decision-making and boldly invest in the potential of the next generation.
Our Republic of Korea is a direct participant that can vividly testify to the noble power of solidarity that the name of the UN embodies.
When the international community acts with one heart and one mind, we can create miraculous changes, and the existence of South Korea, which has built industrialization and democratization from the ruins of war, is proof of that.
Now, we will repay that solidarity with greater responsibility and contribution.
We will take the lead in reconnecting a divided world, creating a future where no one is left behind, and ensuring that the next generation can dream of a better tomorrow.
Toward a peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and a future for the UN that delivers results for all, South Korea will boldly advance at the forefront.
Thank you sincerely for your attention.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.