Opening Remarks  H.E. Cho Tae-yul, Minister of Foreign Affairs 

Joint Foreign Press Conference of MOEF and MOFA

December 18, 2024

Good morning,  

Let me start by thanking all those who helped organize this gathering for their hard work.  

It is deeply regrettable that my first meeting as Minister of Foreign Affairs with members of the foreign media is taking place under these grave circumstances. 

However, I firmly believe that better informing the international community is one of my key duties as Foreign Minister -- all the more so in difficult times.  

The declaration of martial law in the evening of December 3 sent huge shockwaves not only in Korea, but across the world. 

I was personally stunned by the announcement as well. The last time martial law was imposed in Korea was in 1979, when I joined the Foreign Ministry. Never did I imagine that it would be declared again 45 years later, in the Korea of 2024. 

The international community was deeply alarmed that such an event would occur in a country long praised for the maturity of its democracy. Yet, subsequent developments also conversely demonstrated the resilience of democracy and the rule of law in Korea.  

Thanks to a firmly-ingrained determination in Korea's collective psyche to never see the mistakes from dark chapters in our history repeated, our democracy was upheld, the democratic process eventually functioned as it should under the Constitution, and order and stability were preserved. 

I am confident that this will remain the case going forward.  

Through your reporting, the international community is also paying close attention to the dynamism of Korea's democracy.  

When Acting President Han Duck-soo and I spoke over the phone with U.S. President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken, respectively, both expressed their unwavering confidence in Korea’s democratic resilience and their unswerving support for the ROK-U.S. alliance. 

Similarly, the U.S. Congress has spoken with one voice, appreciating Korea’s ability to restore its democracy while affirming its unflagging support for the ROK-U.S. alliance and trilateral cooperation among the U.S., Korea and Japan.  

Furthermore, many of our other international friends and partners have also reiterated their confidence in and support for Korea's democracy. 

I am grateful to those who have steadfastly stood with the Korean people through challenging times, be it seventy years ago or in recent weeks.  

I am well aware that there are those at home and abroad who question the sustainability of our foreign policy. Under the acting presidency, we will maintain our foreign policy stance focusing on fulfilling roles and responsibilities that befit our national strength and stature.  

Doing so is not an option but a necessity, especially in a polycrisis period of tremendous uncertainties in the international order. I find it difficult to accept the proposition that our foreign policy should turn a blind eye to the cherished democratic values that we've worked so hard to defend from turmoil at home. 

In order to ensure Korea continues to effectively play a responsible role, we will do everything we can to bring normalcy back to our diplomacy and rebuild the trust of the international community. 

Most importantly, we will ensure that our foreign policy and national security leave no room for error.

The Korean Government is maintaining a robust security posture based on a strong ROK-U.S. alliance. We will manage Korean Peninsula affairs in a stable manner, while remaining as ready as ever to respond firmly in the event of North Korea's provocations. 

As for the North Korean nuclear issue, we will prepare plans and roadmaps before the incoming U.S. administration takes office, which will help us proactively brace for the possibility of the U.S. negotiating with North Korea. 

Second, we will enhance bilateral communication with other key countries to stably manage Korea’s international relations. 

Our government will maintain a steadfast ROK-U.S. alliance and friendly cooperation with Japan, and actively work to ensure that the momentum for trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S., and Japan is sustained.

Next year will mark the 60^th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations, and we are committed to advancing preparations to make 2025 go down as a milestone year in our bilateral ties with Japan. 

We intend to maintain close consultations with China in order to stably manage and further advance our bilateral relations.

Irrespective of our domestic situation, we will steadfastly build trust, while deepening and broadening substantive cooperation with China.

Korea will host the APEC Leaders’ Meeting next year, followed by China in 2026, which will hopefully give fresh impetus to moving our bilateral relationship forward.

We will make every effort to ensure that our cooperation with like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific and Europe does not falter. These countries have expressed staunch confidence in the resilience of Korea's democracy.

Third, we will restore our international standing and credibility on the multilateral stage.

We are tapping into every available resource to prepare for the successful hosting of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju next year.

Korea will leverage its concurrent representation at the UN Security Council (UNSC), UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as well as its position as chair of MIKTA–a middle power consultative group–in 2025, and translate into action our commitment to serving global peace and prosperity. 

Fourth, we will leave no stones unturned in protecting our economic security.  

In order to ensure that our preparations to be ready for the incoming U.S. administration are not debilitated by the current situation, we will make timely and necessary responses through weekly ministerial meetings on external economic affairs chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and close public-private partnership. In particular, we will seek innovative ways to harness the private sector strengths of businesses. 

By doing so, we will tackle a range of economic uncertainties and manage potential risks, while actively harnessing new opportunities that advance future-oriented economic cooperation with the U.S. under its new administration.  

We will also strengthen economic diplomacy to prevent adverse impacts of the current domestic situation on our business activities and foreign investment, and actively address economic security issues such as supply chain disruptions and energy crises.   

This joint press conference today with the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy is a symbolic testament to these efforts.

Lastly, we will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of foreign visitors to Korea. No doubt you are aware of Korea’s healthy public safety record. I ask that you relay back home and to the international audience that Koreans and the 2.7 million expats in this country are going about their daily lives as usual under stable and orderly conditions and that Korea is a completely safe place to visit.  

Members of the foreign media,  

As Alexis de Tocqueville noted in the 19th century, the strength of democracy is that it is always capable of self-correction. I am confident that Korea will emerge from these events as a more seasoned democracy.   

In tandem, Korea's foreign policy will seek to restore Korea’s global standing and credibility in the international community and continue shouldering responsible roles.  

As the Republic of Korea surmounts the challenges that lie ahead, I ask for your faith in the strength of the Korean people and Korea's democracy as well as your support in letting the world know.  

Thank you for your attention. //END// 

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