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President bids farewell, calls Korea 'nation of great people'
Source
KOREA.net
Date
2022.12.13

President Moon Jae-in on May 9, the last day of his term, called Korea "a country with strong resilience in the face of crisis," "an unshakable nation" and "a nation that plays a leading role on the international stage."


In his farewell speech in the morning at Cheong Wa Dae, he said he is "very grateful" that the country elevated its national prestige and pride to another level through the people jointly overcoming crisis and taking a big step forward toward becoming a leading nation.


He said the protagonist was "definitely" the people and called Korea "simply a nation of great people both recognized and envied by the world."


The chief executive said the people united amid national crises such as the effort for peace on the Korean Peninsula, Japan's export restrictions on Korea and the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the nation "grew stronger through crisis and achieved greater progress."


President Moon said he was "very proud and honored" to accompany "the great people" in Korea's history of success, and dedicated his farewell to the people.


On inter-Korean relations, he said he developed hope for a new era of peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and that he sincerely hopes efforts toward denuclearization and permanent peace between both Koreas continue with the resumption of dialogue between both sides.


The president said he hopes the next administration will strengthen national power through the succession and development of the cumulative achievements of its predecessors and head toward a better future. He said unifying the people's hearts is "of the highest importance."


In the afternoon, President Moon held his last diplomatic meetings as head of state with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, both of whom arrived in Korea to attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol.


Afterwards, President Moon was slated to leave Cheong Wa Dae at 6 p.m. with first lady Kim Jung-sook. He will maintain his command of the military until midnight via the hotline with the Ministry of National Defense before formally finishing his term.


After attending the inauguration on the morning of May 10, he will board at noon a KTX bullet train at Seoul Station and head for his private residence rogramyeongsanmaeul section of the village of Jisan-ri in Habuk-myeon Township, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do Province.


The government cable channel Korea TV on May 6 aired the documentary "Moon Jae-in's Truth" (unofficial title) about his life after retirement. In the program, he said he will return to the "southern rural area" (Yangsan), where he and his "jointly aging" wife are originally from, and "live well like a sunset."



By Lee Kyoung Mi and Lee Jihae

km137426@korea.kr