By Lee Jon-Young

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivered a keynote address to the United Nations General Assembly in the plenary hall on Sept. 20.

During the General Debate on the theme of "Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity," President Yoon expressed his commitment to actively contribute to addressing global disparities and other challenges.

President Yoon pointed out that the gap between countries is growing amid a complex crisis, including the division of values and ideologies caused by the war in Ukraine, the contraction of the global economy and the escalation of the food and energy crisis. 

In particular, he raised the issue of three global disparities: the development gap, the climate gap, and the digital gap, and presented the direction of our support to mitigate the disparities.

First of all, he emphasized that countries with financial and technological capabilities should play a responsible role in closing the development gap. President Yoon said that despite the tight fiscal climate this year, the government has increased the size of next year's official development assistance (ODA) budget by more than 40%, and will use the expanded ODA to promote customized development cooperation with recipient countries, especially education and training ODA for the development of recipient countries.

Regarding the climate gap, as extreme weather such as heat waves, heavy rains, and typhoons are becoming a daily occurrence, the government will expand green ODA by contributing an additional $300 million to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to help climate crisis vulnerable countries reduce carbon emissions and transition to clean energy. 

In particular, he pledged to broadly utilize and share not only renewable energy but also high-efficiency carbon-free energy (CFE) such as nuclear power and hydrogen as realistic alternatives to achieve carbon neutrality, and announced the formation of the Carbon Free Alliance, an open platform for the spread of carbon-free energy.

In addition, President Yoon said that South Korea will play a leading role in shaping global digital norms and establishing AI governance by utilizing strengths in information and communication technology (ICT) to support the digital transformation of developing countries. 

He promised to present a "digital bill of rights" soon to realize a desirable future of the digital order, and proposed hosting an "AI Global Forum" to support the establishment of a United Nations international organization on AI.

Meanwhile, President Yoon emphasized that South Korea will play a responsible role in safeguarding international peace and security as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2024-2025 term. 

He said, “First, in line with our commitment to the 'Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative', we will implement a comprehensive support program for Ukraine, including security, humanitarian, and reconstruction, and reiterated our intention to contribute $300 million next year and prepare a medium- and long-term support package worth an additional $2 billion or more, following the last G20 Summit.”

In particular, he pointed out that North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are a grave challenge to peace not only in Korea but also in the region and around the world, and said that it is self-contradictory that a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which is supposed to be the final guardian of world peace, receives support from a regime that armedly invades other sovereign states, wages war, and receives weapons and munitions necessary to wage war in direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions. 

He also emphasized the need for solidarity and principled action by the international community, saying that if North Korea receives information and technology needed to enhance its WMD capabilities in exchange for conventional weapons from Russia, the Russo-DPRK military deal would be a provocation directly targeting the security and peace of not only Ukraine but also the Republic of Korea.

President Yoon then explained the significance of Busan as a candidate for the 2030 World Expo and the purpose of hosting the event. He emphasized that Busan, the last bastion of freedom during the Korean War, is a symbolic city that led the "Miracle of the Han River," rising from the ruins of war to become the world's second largest transshipment port, and said that through the Busan World Expo, Korea will share its experience of growth and development with the international community. 

In particular, he noted that the Busan World Expo will be a platform for solidarity and a festive space for sharing history, culture, products, and future visions as citizens of the world overcome crises and expand freedom together, and called for international attention to Korea's bid.

President Yoon's attendance at the UN General Assembly for the second consecutive year is seen as an opportunity to strengthen the international community's support for Korea’s foreign policy and to publicize its determination to actively play a role befitting our status.