On December 14, President Yoon Suk Yeol addressed the nation in a formal statement, titled 'A Message to the People,' just over an hour after the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against him.

In his speech, President Yoon emphasized, "Though I am momentarily at a standstill, the journey toward the future that I have walked alongside the people over the past two and a half years must not stop. I will never give up."

He also pledged to remain steadfast in his duties, saying, "I will carry the criticisms, encouragement, and support directed at me in my heart and devote myself fully to the nation until the very end."

President Yoon called upon the political community to transform the current culture of confrontation into one of deliberation and mutual respect. He urged, "Let us shift away from politics of recklessness and conflict to politics of consideration and compromise. I hope you will focus on improving political culture and institutional frameworks for the betterment of our nation."

Full Text of the Address

" Fellow Citizens,

Watching the National Assembly pass the impeachment motion today, I was reminded of June 29, 2021—the day I first announced my entry into politics. At that time, the principles of liberal democracy and the rule of law in our nation were crumbling.

The despair of small business owners and the frustration of the younger generation filled the country. Driven by the fervent desire of the people for change, I entered the political arena.

Since then, I have poured my heart and soul into working for this country without pause.

As President, I have met citizens across the nation and heard their struggles firsthand. I saw how the small business and self-employed sectors suffered due to the policies of the previous administration. Young people and working-class citizens groaned under the burden of excessive real estate loans.

Despite these challenges, I found immense joy in addressing issues one by one and easing the difficulties faced by the people.

Seeing exports rebound and the economy regain momentum gave me strength. Restoring the collapsed nuclear energy ecosystem and achieving nuclear energy exports brought great satisfaction.

I pursued the four major reforms that are essential for our nation's future, reforms previous administrations avoided because of potential political backlash.

When the policies I painstakingly worked on were obstructed, it pained me deeply and kept me awake at night.

I tirelessly worked to rebuild South Korea's trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan and to expand the horizons of global diplomacy. With the title of South Korea's “No. 1 Salesperson,” I traveled the world to achieve tangible results, which brought me immense pride.

Seeing South Korea’s international standing rise and our nation’s security and economy strengthen helped me forget my exhaustion.

Now, this demanding yet fulfilling journey must pause.

I worry that all our efforts may come to nothing. However, while I may momentarily stop, the journey toward the future that we have walked together over the past two and a half years must not end.

I will never give up.

I will carry both the reproaches and the encouragement I have received in my heart and will continue to dedicate myself fully to the nation until the very last moment.

To public officials, I ask this of you:

These are challenging times, but I urge you to remain steadfast and carry out your duties without wavering. Unite under the acting president and focus all efforts on ensuring the safety and well-being of the people.

To the political community, I make this appeal:

Let us move beyond reckless and adversarial politics to foster a culture of deliberation and consideration. Please devote your attention and efforts to improving political culture and institutional systems for the betterment of our nation.

Beloved Citizens,

I have faith in the resilience of the Korean people.

Let us all come together and strive for the freedom, democracy, and prosperity of South Korea.

Thank you."

SEE ALSO: Impeachment motion passes with divided citizen reactions in Yeouido and Gwanghwamun