“Problems as tangled as threads should be unraveled patiently and methodically.”
“Efforts to restore trust between the two Koreas will be implemented from the beginning and consistently maintained.”
On September 18, President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the importance of improving inter-Korean relations and peacefully coexisting on the Korean Peninsula. Speaking at the ‘2025 International Korean Peninsula Forum,’ organized by the Ministry of Unification, President Lee, through a speech read by National Security Office Second Deputy Director Lim Woong-soon, reiterated his commitment to these goals.
President Lee stated that the path to achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula is the most effective and swiftest way to ensure South Korea’s prosperity and safeguard the everyday lives of its citizens. He expressed determination not to be discouraged or to halt efforts due to lack of immediate response from the other party.
President Lee noted that dealing with complex issues requires patience and steady efforts, remarking that the 80 years of division in Korea’s 5,000-year history is not a long time. He committed to playing all necessary roles for peaceful coexistence on the peninsula and globally, striving to end the era of confrontation and hostility, and ushering in an era of peaceful coexistence and joint growth.
Despite the remarkable achievements in the 80 years since Liberation, President Lee pointed out that the era of division and confrontation still persists, limiting opportunities for geographical and emotional imagination and development, and hindering national integration.
The president explained that his call for a new era of peaceful coexistence and joint growth on the Korean Peninsula originated from these observations made during the Liberation Day address.
President Lee emphasized the need to end the era of confrontation and hostility between the two Koreas, stating that the restoration of trust and dialogue must be the starting points. He mentioned that the government had already taken steps to ease military tensions and restore trust between the Koreas early in its tenure.
The president assured that this stance would be consistently maintained and that efforts would continue to prepare for and foster conditions for dialogue and cooperation. He highlighted the importance of preparing for agreements that can be realized under current inter-Korean agreements.
Additionally, President Lee pledged to make every effort to establish systems that practically support peaceful coexistence by reflecting on the changed inter-Korean relations and the international situation.