Are you preparing an inauguration speech that will captivate your audience? In this article, you’ll find sample inauguration speeches for different occasions and tips on how to write them. Make your special moment shine with a classy speech!

Inaugural speech for the Minister of Knowledge Economy

Dear Ministry of Knowledge Economy family, it’s a pleasure to meet you. First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and respect to the first Minister of Knowledge Economy, Lee Yoon-ho, who inherited great achievements that will become the cornerstone of our economy. I would also like to express my gratitude and admiration to all of you for your hard work in putting our economy back on the road to recovery.
I started as a public servant at the Economic Planning Service, worked as a journalist, and then as a member of the National Assembly, and returned to the public service after 10 years. Although I’ve been back for a long time, I don’t feel at all unfamiliar with the public service and feel at home. I think this is probably due to the support and consideration you have given me during this process, and I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your hard work in preparing for this hearing.
Dear members of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, As you are well aware, the Lee Myung-bak administration was born with the overwhelming support of the people in the zeitgeist of “revitalizing the economy.” However, our economy has been shaken by social conflicts such as the candlelight vigil, and we have exhausted a lot of our energy in navigating the torrent of the global financial crisis. Although we are recovering quickly through proactive crisis response, the “revitalization” that the new government wanted to do has not yet taken full steps. I believe that now is a golden opportunity for our economy to once again take a leap forward into the future. The challenges we face are not simple, but I believe that these challenges will give us the opportunity to build a solid foundation for our economy. As the global economy slowly emerges from the crisis, we need to jump ahead of the rest of the world. We urgently need to revitalize our economy and expand its growth potential.
We need to empower large enterprises to compete on the global stage; we need to revitalize the grassroots economy by lifting up small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-enterprises that have fallen on hard times; and restoring entrepreneurship, which has been damaged, will play a key role in revitalizing our economy. I believe that the Ministry of Knowledge Economy should be at the center of these real economy policies. We will establish the ministry as the overall ministry for real economy and industrial policy, and we will prepare policies that meet the needs and expectations of businesses to build a more solid economic structure. To do so, we need to focus on the policy function, which sets the big direction of our industry and realizes it, and actively reflects it by participating in the national decision-making process. To this end, I will move key personnel to the policy development field. I will create a creative organizational culture so that good policies can be developed through diverse ideas and challenging thinking, and reward those who make good policies through clear delegation of authority and new penalties. I ask you to do your best to make good policies. I will actively participate in the major policy-making process and play a role in persuading and implementing our policies.
Dear members of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, the economy is slowly recovering, but it’s still a cold winter for the mass economy. We need to warm up the ‘small and medium-sized enterprises, self-employment, and local economies,’ which are the foundation of the economy. Furthermore, we need to revitalize them, especially by dramatically improving SME policies. We need to help SMEs overcome the limits of their growth and grow into specialized companies with global competitiveness. We will also strengthen linkages with local industries to create jobs, and invest all resources to help SMEs and the self-employed create new opportunities through innovative technologies and business models. To do this, we will change the paradigm of related policies such as R&D, taxation, and overseas expansion. In addition, we will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of policy support for small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed people who need policy consideration so that they can become fundamentally competitive. We will also do our best to revitalize the local economy, which is closely related to the lives of ordinary people.
In particular, we will link local businesses with vocational high schools and universities to foster more skilled workers, so that we can create a self-sustaining local economic revitalization structure in which local talent can start businesses and be employed locally. However, in order for the economy to improve, our economy must fundamentally regain its vitality. We need to achieve economic growth that the common people can feel through sustained economic recovery and stable employment creation, and to do so, we will carefully reflect the voices of the industrial field and promote policies. It is of utmost importance to strengthen the stamina of our economy and prepare for the new industrial order that will arrive after the economic crisis. As the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, which is the main ministry in charge of industrial policy, we need to think about how to prepare for the weakening competitiveness of key industries. As a key ministry for low-carbon green growth, we need to have a clear roadmap for preparing for the era of climate change and take the lead in promoting the industrialization and localization of green technologies, especially in the industrialization and localization of green technologies.
Dear members of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy family, through this personnel hearing, I realized that the scope of our ministry is very wide and that you are doing a lot of work, but I also realized that we need to “think deeply” about our work. One of them is the software industry, which is at the core of the convergence between IT and manufacturing, and it is an industry that is at the center of the convergence between IT and manufacturing. Not only does it make other industries more competitive, but it also creates a lot of jobs. The recently announced ‘IT Korea Future Strategy’ should be promoted quickly and supplemented with new policies if necessary. We need to fundamentally improve the competitiveness of the software industry so that we can be called SW Korea. We also need to change the R&D support system. The perception of R&D is very poor outside the country, and there is even a story that it is like a broken poison, no matter how much you pour in, you can’t see the results. We need to do some ‘radical surgery’ on this.
R&D funding is precious seed money for the future of our economy. It should never be blind money, where the first to get it is the last. There should be fierce competition between projects, and objective and dispassionate evaluation. We will make sure that R&D funding is directed to projects that have a clear path to success.
In recent years, exports have had less and less impact on domestic demand and employment. One of the main reasons for this is the weakness of the parts and materials industry. We will create a stable export base through innovation in our parts and materials industry, and strengthen our competitiveness in the international market through new technological innovations and the development of alternative materials. We need to promote policies that can break through the nutcracker situation in the division of labor between Korea, China, and Japan. We need to reduce our dependence on Japan while creating a structure in which China’s rapid growth is directly linked to the growth of our industry.

Inaugural speech by the President of the ○○ University ○○ Area Alumni Association

Hello, I’m Mr. ○○○, the new President of the ○○ University ○○ Region ○○ Alumni Association. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for joining us today. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the advisory board members, the presidents of the alumni associations of each department and city and county, the executive board members of the secretariat, and the 25th general alumni association for taking the time out of their busy schedules in April 20○○, a beautiful season with cherry blossoms in full bloom. I would also like to thank all the alumni who have trusted me with the enormous task of being the president of the Alumni Association.
It is with a new sense of gratitude that I stand here in front of you. I think back to the times when I graduated from ○○ University and shared with alumni in various fields of society. The achievements we have made together and the pride of being a proud alumnus are a great source of strength and honor for me at this moment. However, I also feel a great sense of responsibility, and I would like to take this opportunity to work with you to prepare for a new chapter in the development of the ○○ Region Alumni Association.
The Alumni Association has already started its 25th year and has been working enthusiastically for the past four months. However, it is also undeniable that the Alumni Association is not as active as we would like it to be. To change this, we need a new and creative approach to the Alumni Association. We want to create more opportunities for greater alumni cohesion and greater collaboration with each other, and I think the challenge for us now is to pool our wisdom and put it into action.
First, I’d like to talk about the future direction of the Alumni Association. I envision the Alumni Association becoming more than just a place to socialize, but a support system where we can grow and challenge each other. Through the alumni network, I want us to share our experiences and knowledge, exchange information and opportunities for mutual development, and even serve as mentors to help our younger colleagues navigate their future paths. To this end, we are launching new programs that will allow alumni to communicate frequently and meet in various ways. We will provide a place for communication so that alumni can freely share their opinions.
○○One of my responsibilities is to help the regional alumni associations, departmental alumni associations, and local alumni associations work more closely together. I believe that by building stronger relationships with each other, we can share our experiences and resources and achieve greater results when we work together toward common goals. To this end, we will regularly organize exchange events between regions and departments, and strengthen communication among alumni associations to bring all alumni together.
Of course, we recognize that there are real-world obstacles to achieving these goals. Just as apathy, individualism, or temporary conflicts can occur in any organization, we have faced our fair share of challenges in the past, but we are determined to overcome them and bring our alumni community truly together. Change won’t happen overnight, but by breaking down barriers one step at a time, we can build a more organic and dynamic collaboration.
I would like to invite you, the alumni, to actively participate in this journey of change. The development of our alumni association requires a conscious change and a mature interest from alumni who continue to participate in their respective positions. I hope that you will continue to be as interested and involved in the activities of the Alumni Association as you are today. I also hope that the alumni present today will generously share their opinions and experiences with us. I will listen to your valuable opinions and lead the Alumni Association with an attitude of action.
I promise to do my best to help the Alumni Association grow and develop with more alumni. I will always remember that the opinions and advice of each and every one of you are invaluable, and I will always do my best to meet your expectations as we continue to build a better Alumni Association.
Once again, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of you. I wish you all good health and happiness in the future, and I sincerely hope that today marks a new and meaningful beginning for our alumni association. Thank you.

Inauguration of the Alumni President Inauguration of the Alumni President

As we enter the season of freshness, it gives me immense honor and joy to hold the inauguration ceremony of the Alumni Association of ○○ Elementary School today. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Principal ○○○ and other faculty and staff members, as well as past presidents, seniors, classmates, and juniors, who have taken time out of their busy schedules to be here today.
Honored alumni of ○○ Elementary School!
I am honored to take on the important position of alumni president. I am worried that I will not be able to live up to the achievements and efforts of my predecessors, but with your support and encouragement, I am confident that I will be able to develop the alumni association to the best of my abilities and pass on a more proud alumni association to our juniors. I ask for your warm support and active participation, and I look forward to moving forward.
There are a few things I would like to promise you today as Alumni President.
First, we will spare no effort to revitalize the alumni association. We will actively encourage and support those who have not yet established an alumni association to do so, so that we can have more alumni participate in this year’s alumni athletic competition. Alumni are stronger together, and the more we come together, the stronger our bond will be. We will do our best to support those riders who are not able to join us in the name of alumni.
Second, we will create a truly united and cohesive alumni association.
We, the five thousand five hundred alumni, are all one family who grew up under the same fence, the same alma mater, ○○ Elementary School, with the same dreams. Despite our different generations and circumstances, we share the same school memories and have walked the same path. Despite various difficulties, I sincerely hope that all alumni will embrace each other’s differences with a broad tolerance, understand each other with a warm heart, and become a true family.
I will put my heart and soul into building such a united alumni association, resolving small conflicts one by one, and taking the initiative to bring us one step closer through communication and understanding. I will work with you to make our alumni association a more united community and shine in the new era.
Third, we will continue the movement to revitalize our alma mater through continued solidarity with our alma mater.
We will take the lead in ensuring that our alma mater continues to thrive as a reliable learning ground for our younger students. Specifically, we will continue to provide generous support for the development of our alma mater through scholarships, facility support, and career mentoring to help our younger students pursue their dreams. This will create a virtuous cycle that will encourage our younger students to graduate with pride and return to our alma mater.
In conclusion, I would like to ask for the generous support of all alumni for the eternal development of ○○ Elementary School and the infinite growth of the Alumni Association. I will lead the Alumni Association with all my might to repay your support and expectations.
Once again, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all alumni for being here today, and I hope that you will continue to join us on our journey to develop our alma mater and the Alumni Association as a united force. Thank you.

Inaugural remarks from the Alumni President

Yesterday it rained across the country, but today it’s sunny like a spring flower in full bloom. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you alumni who took the time to come to the inauguration ceremony even on a weekend when it’s easy to go out. Today is a meaningful day for the 11th executive board of the ○○ High School Alumni Association.
As President, I, along with the newly elected and nominated officers, would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to you, the alumni. Over the next year and eight months, we pledge to serve the Alumni Association humbly, humbly, humbly, and with all our might. We have a lot of great talent in the Alumni Association, and we will continue to keep the doors open for any alumnus who has a sincere desire to serve.
The election process that led to the formation of the 11th Executive Board was unprecedented, and while it demonstrated the high level of alumni participation and interest in the process and resulted in a stronger Alumni Association, it also taught me an important lesson about the unity of the Alumni Association.
I pledge to you, our alumni, once again. I am determined to serve our alumni and our alma mater to the best of my ability. First and foremost, I will create an open and vibrant Alumni Association, and the more you participate, the stronger we will be. To do this, I need the active participation and cooperation of our chapters, sections, and alumni presidents. Together, we can make our alumni association stronger, and our alma mater stronger.
Second, we will strengthen the network of alumni across the country. Our alumni are full of talented people who are working hard as workers in various fields across the country. Many of them are running great companies and playing important roles in all walks of life. However, many of our alumni are unemployed or underemployed.
We believe that our alumni association should become a place where we can effectively connect and support these talents and resources. We will create a win-win situation where alumni can support each other by establishing a “talent network” segmented by graduation year, region, and industry. Through this, we hope to share our wisdom and capabilities and make the alumni association open to everyone.
Third, we will revitalize the Alumni Newsletter and the Alumni Association website to share alumni news more effectively and increase communication among alumni. We will quickly deliver the latest news, expand opportunities to connect online and offline, and create a space for alumni to interact more frequently. We will also enrich the content of the Alumni Newsletter with various stories from alumni.
Once again, the success of these initiatives I have promised will depend on the participation of alumni across the country. I ask you to join me in recognizing that each and every one of you owns your alumni association.
Finally, I would like to conclude my inaugural address by wishing you all good health and happiness in your homes, and I ask for your continued support and affection. Thank you.

Inaugural Message from the Alumni President

Hello, everyone!
The Christmas carols on the streets remind us that it’s already the end of the year, the red and green hues have never been so beautiful, and the giant trees in the city squares are beautifully decorated with twinkling lights, adding to the warmth of the season. It’s funny how Christmas is really just a celebration, but it still manages to get our hearts pumping and our minds racing. I can still remember the excitement of being a kid and waiting for Santa to bring me presents, and the disappointment when I realized it was actually my parents. I can laugh about it now, but I remember it was a big shock to have that innocent illusion shattered. Just sharing these memories with you now makes me appreciate the stories we’ve built up over time.
I’m sure that this Christmas and holiday excitement holds similar memories for many of you here in the Alumni Center, and it makes it all the more special to be here with friends who share those memories. Our classmates are clearly good friends with warm hearts and lots of energy who have gathered here today on one of the coldest days of the year.
I am deeply honored to be here today and to have been given the opportunity to serve as your reunion chairman for next year’s reunion. My predecessors have worked so hard over the years, and I am grateful that we are able to gather so comfortably and joyfully today because of the passion and care they have always put into the reunion. As you continue to take time out of your busy schedules, I hope that you will continue to give us the encouragement and attention that you promised when you entrusted me with the role of Alumni President, and that you will continue to look out for the health and happiness of all of our friends.
Alumni associations, especially those from our middle and high school years, are precious gatherings where we can freely interact with each other with an understanding based on the friendships we made during the most innocent and passionate times of our lives. More than any other meeting, it is the gathering where we can share our heartfelt and sometimes heartbreaking stories, and perhaps that’s why, even on a cold winter day like today, we are still here, warming up and welcoming each other with our hearts.
In the upcoming new year, I will work together with the soon-to-be-formed alumni board members to make our alumni association even more vibrant, caring, and a place where we can grow as one. We hope to create a place where we can share deeper and warmer friendships in our future meetings, and we need all of you to join us in this endeavor and actively participate, and we look forward to creating a noisy place with more friends at this time next year.
This is also the year that most of us will be celebrating our 60th birthdays, and the new year will be the first year that we’ll be moving towards our next 60 years. It’s such a blessing to be among friends who are walking the same path as us on these milestones. I wish you all the best in your respective walks of life, and I sincerely pray that the new year brings peace and joy to your homes.
Thank you for sharing this moment with us, and once again, I want to express my deepest gratitude. I wish you all a warm and happy holiday season, and I look forward to seeing you in the new year in good health. Thank you.

Alumni President Inauguration Ceremony Alumni President Inauguration Speech

Honored and beloved alumni of the ○○ Elementary School Alumni Association, senior and junior alumni, and distinguished guests!
I am Mr. ○○○, a graduate of the ○th class of ○, who today assumes the important position of the ○th Alumni Association President. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this event.
We are a proud alma mater with a history and tradition of contributing to the development of our community, producing countless talented individuals since its inception. Each and every one of our alumni here is an active member of society, honoring the name of our alma mater in their respective positions. We are a special family, united by the bonds of attending the same school, despite our different paths.
Alumni, the Alumni Association is where we all come together to make things happen. Each and every one of us owns our alumni association, and it is because of our voluntary participation and loving care that our alumni association has grown and matured. I promise that I will continue to do my best to help the Alumni Association reach new heights together with you, the alumni.
Our alumni association has been built on a solid foundation through the hard work and sincere efforts of all of our alumni, and in order to build on this foundation and make further leaps and bounds, I will continue to cherish the work of our predecessors. In addition, I will organize more diverse activities for active exchange and communication among alumni, and further enhance the value and solidarity of the alumni association.
On behalf of all alumni, I would like to thank President ○○○ for his outstanding leadership and efforts in leading the Alumni Association over the past year. Even under difficult conditions, you have made every effort to ensure that all alumni participated in large and small events of our alma mater, including the project to attract students to our alma mater, and in particular, the last fall alumni unity convention once again confirmed the cohesion of our ○○ people. This was only possible due to the cooperation, participation, service, passion, dedication, and consideration of all alumni. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you once again.
My esteemed and beloved ○○ Elementary School Alumni Association family, we ○○ people are indeed a recognizable and caring people. I take this position as an invitation to continue and further develop this fine tradition, and I promise to do my utmost to promote unity, fellowship, and the development of our alma mater.
Throughout my term, I will do my best to serve the Alumni Association, to serve you, and to embody the spirit of fellowship and alumni love. Together with you, I will do my best to move the Alumni Association forward, and to make it a stronger force in our community and alma mater.
In closing, I wish all of you alumni good health and happiness in your families, and I hope you continue to thrive in your respective endeavors.
Thank you.

○○ Alumni President’s Inaugural Address

Hello, everyone! Dear Alumni Association!
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who have taken the time out of your busy schedules to come and celebrate this inauguration.
I believe that today is a meaningful occasion for our alumni association to prepare for a new leap forward and envision our future together. Each and every one of you here today is a valuable asset to our organization and a powerful force for us to move forward together.
I would also like to express my deepest respect to our outgoing president, Mr. ○○○, for his outstanding leadership and warmth during his term, even under difficult circumstances. Thanks to the dedication of the past president and the executive team, our alumni association has been able to dream bigger visions with the stable foundation it has today. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for your hard work.
Honored Alumni!
Our ○○ Alumni Association is like a mother’s embrace, an umbrella when it rains and a warm nest when the sun goes down. It’s a community that comforts and encourages us when we’re struggling and lonely, and is the first to celebrate our joys.
Being the leader of such a hometown is a great honor and a great responsibility, and while I am inadequate in many ways, I am encouraged by the wisdom and enthusiasm of our alumni. Under my leadership, I will advocate for your interests and do my best to develop the organization.
We, the ○○ Alumni Association, have grown into a mature organization that is not just about socializing, but also about pursuing a rewarding life together as graduates of ○○ Elementary School and contributing to the school and society. We are proud to be such an organization, and it is time for us to work together even harder in the future.
There is a common misconception that fraternity and sorority gatherings are consumptive and disposable, but I hope that we can move beyond that perception and work towards more worthwhile goals. Going forward, we want to avoid these consumptive events and instead create a concrete annual business plan that will allow us to turn our efforts into tangible contributions to our alma mater and community.
In particular, we want to further enhance the value of our alumni presence through sustainable programs of giving back and service, such as school development fundraising, scholarships, and community outreach, which we will carefully plan so that they are not just a one-time event, but a yearly occurrence, so that our younger generations can benefit from them.
We believe that this effort will not only resonate with our alumni, but also with the local community, our students, and their parents. If our alumni can make a positive impact on our school and community, and take the lead in caring for and helping our students, it will be a win-win for all of us.
Alumni involvement and interest is critical
In order to become such a mature and meaningful organization, it is absolutely necessary for us to have the deep interest and active participation of our alumni. When we share our love for reunions in the midst of our busy lives, our alumni association will be able to achieve greater development and unity.
Honored alumni!
It’s each and every one of you who makes this organization work. I am confident that if we work together, our ○○ Alumni Association will grow into one of the best organizations in the country. We will only be a true alumni organization if we all take ownership and participate.
In closing, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of our guests and alumni for taking the time out of their busy schedules to be here today, and I sincerely wish everyone in this room good health and happiness in the future.
Thank you.

Inaugural Speech by Alumni President

Dear alumni of ○○ Elementary School!
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who have taken time out of your busy schedules to come and celebrate this inauguration ceremony.
I would also like to pay tribute to our outgoing president, Mr. and Mrs. ○○○, who have put our organization on a solid foundation with their outstanding leadership and friendliness under difficult conditions. I would also like to extend my deepest gratitude to the members of the Executive Board for their tireless work. Your dedication has made our alumni association as strong and united as it is today.
Dear Alumni!
Our ○○ Alumni Association has been in existence for 50 years, a long period of time that has seen us through hardship and adversity, joy and accomplishment, and a history of highs and lows. I believe that the continuous growth and development of our alumni association during this short period of time is due solely to the unwavering affection and support of our alumni, all of which stems from the strong spirit and persistence of the ○○ people who have done their best in their respective positions and lived with pride.
I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my respect to the senior alumni who have been a great pillar of the alumni association, and I, as the new president of the alumni association, will continue to do my best to ensure the unity and development of the alumni association.
Dear Alumni!
We all live fiercely in different environments, but the bonds of hometown friends and alumni transcend all that and connect us. Alumni and friends are like an umbrella when it rains, a nest to rest in when the sun goes down, and a mother’s embrace when you’re feeling hard and lonely.
The modern world is becoming increasingly competitive, and each of us is juggling a variety of roles and responsibilities at home and at work. As a result, we have fewer places to confide in, and we may find ourselves fighting a lonely battle alone. If our alumni association can be a source of support and encouragement at such times, it will mean the world to us.
Dear Alumni!
It is a great honor for me to be entrusted with the enormous responsibility of being president, but it is also a heavy responsibility. With your support, I will do my best to develop the alumni association. I will learn from the wisdom and rich experience of our senior members and add the energy and enthusiasm of our younger members to lay the foundation for a new leap forward for our alumni association.
Honored alumni!
In order for our alumni association to grow into a truly cohesive organization and continue its meaningful activities, we need the deep interest and active participation of each and every one of you. You are the owners of our organization. Each small event, each meeting, each gathering will add up and lead to great things, all of which will be a treasured legacy for those who come after us.
In closing, I would like to thank all of our distinguished guests and alumni for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here today. I wish you all good health and happiness in your future endeavors. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to all of the executives and alumni who have prepared for today’s event.
I would like to conclude my remarks by pledging to sincerely fulfill the duties of the presidency that you have entrusted to me.
Thank you.

High School Alumni President’s Inaugural Speech

Dear beloved and honored alumni, and dear guests who have taken time out of your busy schedules to be here today!
Yesterday it rained across the country, but today it’s sunny like a spring flower in full bloom. We sincerely thank all of you for taking the time to come to the inauguration ceremony on such a beautiful weekend.
Today marks the departure of the first executive board of the ○○ High School Alumni Association. As President, I, along with the rest of the newly elected and nominated officers, would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to you, the alumni. We pledge to serve you with humility and dedication during our one-year term.
Our alumni association is made up of many wonderful alumni. In the future, we hope that the Alumni Association will be an open organization, with a lowered threshold for any alumnus who is truly dedicated and able to serve the alumni, to run for the office of Alumni President and to participate as an officer. We believe that the Alumni Association should be a place of engagement for all alumni, not just a few leaders.
For the first time in our history, this year’s executive board was formed through a contested election process. Although this was an unprecedented move, I believe it was a result of alumni’s greater interest in and commitment to the Alumni Association, and I believe it was a great opportunity for the Alumni Association to become a more democratic and vibrant organization. I have no doubt that these changes will continue to drive the Alumni Association forward.
I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to serve and dedicate myself to the development of the Alumni Association and my alma mater to the best of my ability. However, I realize that no matter how hard I try, I will never be able to achieve much without your active participation and support. The deep affection and support of our beloved alumni is the most important driving force for the growth and development of the Alumni Association.
Here are a few key initiatives we’re looking forward to pursuing.
First, we will create an active and engaged Alumni Association. The more alumni participate in the activities of the Alumni Association, the stronger the Alumni Association will be, and the benefits will accrue to all alumni. To achieve this, we need to work closely with the alumni presidents of the chapters, branches, and units, and we ask you to actively participate. We will organize regular communications, as well as regional and horseman-specific gatherings to increase the bond between alumni.
Second, we will create a trusted alumni association by transparently disclosing accounting information. As the alumni association is funded by your valuable membership fees, we will strive to gain your trust by clearly and transparently disclosing the details of its use. To this end, we will publish detailed accounting information on a quarterly basis through the alumni association website, making it easy for anyone to access the accounting information.
Third, we will systematically promote projects to support our alma mater. Our alma mater, ○○ High School, is currently performing well thanks to the efforts and support of many alumni, but we believe that it has great potential for further development. Our executive board plans to implement various projects to develop our alma mater, and actively support our younger students to pursue their studies in a better environment, such as scholarship support and mentoring programs for current students. This will strengthen the bond between our alma mater and alumni and instill pride in our younger students.
We aim for an open alumni association where alumni and alumni organizations can interact with each other. If you have any suggestions for improvements or new ideas that you would like to share with us, we would like to hear from you. All of these opinions will be an important foundation for building a better alumni organization.
I hope that the Alumni Association will continue to grow with your love and dedication, and finally, I wish you all good health and family happiness. If all alumni participate, communicate, and work together, the projects we have planned will surely be realized.
I would like to conclude my inaugural address by asking for your continued support.
Thank you.

Governor’s Inaugural Address

Honored and beloved citizens of ○○! I am ○○○, the son of ○○, chosen by the people of ○○. I am a person with many shortcomings, but I sincerely appreciate the opportunity you have given me, and I will not take this responsibility lightly. I will devote all my passion and sincerity to this position that you have trusted me with. With everything I have, I will build a better ○○do that you have come to expect.
Today, I make a promise to you. I will give everything I have to repay the grace you have given me, tenfold, a hundredfold. I will always listen to the voices of the people of ○○, always walk with them, with a sense of duty and responsibility.
My dear and beloved citizens of ○○, I will be the first governor to create jobs for a happy ○○. Jobs are not just a means of livelihood, but an important factor that determines the value of life and happiness. With the mindset that jobs are the number one priority for happiness, I will do my best to create jobs, which is one of the most important values in life. In particular, I will present a new vision to turn the beautiful nature of ○○ into jobs. We will create ○○-type jobs that utilize the characteristics of ○○. If flowers and green forests spread everywhere in ○○, nature will become the happiness and asset of the people of ○○. To this end, I will create millions of pine parks and healing forests so that the people of ○○ can always find rest and rejuvenation. I will give my all to creating jobs.
I also pledge to be a ‘welfare governor’. The needy neighbors I met through the briquette-burning campaign and various volunteer activities in the past remain close to my heart. Instead of turning away those who are tired of the weight of life, I will realize a city that embraces them more warmly. In particular, I will pay close attention to the difficulties faced by the elderly, people with disabilities, children from marginalized groups, and migrant women who do not receive support from their families but are not eligible for welfare due to their circumstances. We will greatly expand support for senior centers for the elderly, and strengthen support for the disabled and marginalized. We will do our best to ensure that welfare is not just a handout, but a platform for all citizens to be respected and enjoy the value of their lives.
As the saying goes, ‘poverty does not save even the king,’ and I will not be able to solve all difficulties at once, but one promise I can make to you is that I will make ○○do a place where the common people are never in need. I will take the initiative to actively participate in volunteer activities and share the highs and lows with my neighbors in need. I believe that the true way to be a good governor is to deeply understand the lives and realities of my neighbors and extend my hand.
I, ○○’s son, ○○○, will dedicate myself to you and ○○ Province. I will go everywhere in Korea and abroad to spread our values, and I will not be afraid of new opportunities and challenges. I will listen to the small voices of the people, and I will work with all public servants with excitement. I will always put the people at the center of my life, and we will build our future together.
Thank you, people of ○○, for trusting and choosing me. I will throw everything I have into building a ○○do that you are proud of, for you. I ask for your unwavering support and trust. Thank you.

Alumni President Inauguration Ceremony Alumni President Inauguration Speech

Hello, I am ○○○, who has just been introduced to President ○. I am deeply honored and feel a great sense of responsibility to stand here today.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our esteemed alumni for taking time out of their busy schedules to join us today for the betterment of ○○ Elementary School and the Alumni Association. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to the immediate past president and all the officers of the Alumni Association. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to President ○○○ and the secretariat officers who have always worked hard for the Alumni Association, and I would like to thank Principal ○○○ for taking the time out of his busy schedule to be here today.
Today is a special day as it marks a new beginning for the Alumni Association of ○○ Elementary School. I believe that this is not just the inauguration of a new alumni president, but the beginning of our alumni association once again taking a leap of faith together towards greater goals. It gives me immense pleasure to stand in this honorable position, and I am excited to begin this journey with you.
To my fellow alumni and friends, the Alumni Association has built upon the cherished traditions and accomplishments of our past presidents and senior officers. They paved the way, and we are only as strong as we are today. I will continue to follow in their footsteps and do my best to further develop ○○ Elementary School and the Alumni Association.
For the development of the Alumni Association, it is important for all alumni to come together with one mind. I will do my best to communicate and cooperate closely with the presidents of each flagship so that the alumni association and ○○ Elementary School can grow together. I will learn the valuable legacy and experience of my predecessors, humbly listen to the valuable opinions of each alumnus, and draw a more colorful and richer path for the alumni association.
In particular, we plan to provide various venues for alumni of each class to interact more actively, starting with meetings with the presidents of each class in the near future, and then regularly organizing meetings with various alumni to hear their valuable opinions. Through these meetings, we will share our thoughts, explore the ways we can move forward together, and become a united alumni association.
To the seniors and juniors in this room, I am confident that the ○○ Elementary School Alumni Association can achieve any goal if we work together as one. The support and participation of each and every one of you is the greatest strength of the Alumni Association. I look forward to sharing the joy of achieving our goals with you in the years to come, and I promise to do so with all my enthusiasm.
Once again, I would like to thank all of our officers and alumni for joining us today, and I wish you all the best of health and happiness. For the wonderful future we will create together, I ask for your unwavering support.
Thank you.

Alumni President’s Inaugural Address Alumni President’s Inaugural Address

Dear esteemed alumni family members, and distinguished guests who have given up their precious time to join us today! I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate the New Year’s meeting and the inauguration of the new alumni president at such a meaningful occasion, as we resolve to start a new year together.
It is a great honor and a great responsibility for me to be entrusted with the role of Alumni President of ○○ Elementary School, which has a long history of 60 years. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my predecessors and the entire executive board for their dedication to our alma mater and the alumni association. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to all the alumni, both young and old, who have been working behind the scenes, without any special title or role, to show their love and dedication to our alma mater and the alumni association. I will do my best to make the Alumni Association even better as a result of your interest and efforts.
During my term, both I and the executive officers intend to promote broader interaction among alumni, and to reach out to those who may not be involved yet or may feel marginalized, and to create a space for more active participation. What is an alumnus? Isn’t an alumnus a precious bond of support and strength in this harsh social life, a comfortable shelter that each of us can come to at any time? I will actively support more alumni to remember this precious bond and come to the shelter of the Alumni Association more often.
We will not neglect our continued interest and support for our alma mater. We will do everything in our power to help our juniors study in a better environment, so that our elementary school can develop into an institution of pride in the community. Furthermore, we will contribute to the community through unity and harmony among alumni, current students, and alumni, and hope that our unity will become a strong pillar of regional development. To this end, I would like to ask for the generous advice, criticism, and encouragement of all alumni and guests.
Once again, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all our guests and alumni for joining us today. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to those who could not be with us today, but who sent me warm congratulations through phone calls, telegrams, and flowers. Your unwavering support means a lot to me and the entire Executive Board.
I wish you greater happiness and good health in the new year. Let us soar higher together towards a new vision!
Let’s work together for the development of ○○ Elementary School, the unity of all alumni associations of all periods, and the continued growth and leap forward of the Alumni Association.
Thank you.

Presidential Inauguration Presidential Season Greetings

Dear faculty, staff, and students of ○○ University, it is a pleasure to meet with you today.
How I wish we could have greeted you on a warmer, more beautiful day.
However, the weather is still quite chilly. Is it supposed to be this cold in February? It seems like the unexpected frigid weather is making February freezing, with just a breeze that feels like the tip of a knife.
This is how unexpected crises and difficult moments can come to us. But just as spring will surely come after winter, warm spring days will surely be waiting for you after your trials. It’s the end of February. Let’s endure the cold a little longer for the spring that is just around the corner.
As I stand here today, I am proud to be a member of the ○○ University family, and I want to thank you all for your warm welcome and congratulations. During my 26 years of service as a civil servant at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, I have experienced that people are our competitiveness, and I have deeply felt that fostering human resources with creativity and technical skills is essential to leading a high-tech industrial society in the 21st century. In this process, I have done my best to create an environment where everyone can pursue their dreams with confidence, with the conviction that a job is the greatest welfare. Now, here at ○○ University, I am thrilled to take on the new challenge of fostering human resources that are essential to our society together with you.
Over the years, ○○ University has grown to become one of the best vocational colleges in Korea by operating a customer-centered, company-tailored workforce training system and providing vocational education that meets international standards, becoming the best institution for customer satisfaction in 20○○ and an excellent institution for employment. These achievements are the proud fruits of your hard work, and I would like to build on them and help ○○ University achieve even more remarkable development.
Dear faculty, staff and students, the world we live in is changing faster than we can imagine. In the wave of the 4th industrial revolution, technology and technology are converging, as well as science and culture. All of these changes present new challenges and opportunities for our university. We don’t know how far smartphones will evolve, and social networks like Facebook and Twitter are changing the way we communicate and train. In addition, people are now required to be multifunctional. Multi-talented multiplayers such as soccer players like Park Ji-sung and celebrities like Lee Seung-ki and Koo Hye-sun are all the rage.
The role of our university is becoming more and more important in this change. Your potential and enthusiasm will be the power to brighten the future of ○○ University. As we have entered an era where it is possible to work abroad with competitive skills and language communication skills, we must be prepared to change and grow infinitely. In this era of accelerating globalization and localization, our university must constantly renew itself and take the lead in change. Change is not something to be feared, but an opportunity for us to grow together.
I will devote my passion and sincerity to realizing the goals and values that the university should pursue together with you. We will go beyond cultivating technical competence to fostering creative thinking and establishing an academic culture that respects the values of ethics and cooperation. I will be your reliable foundation so that our university can become a competitive and exciting university, and I will work with and support you so that you can enjoy your work and live a happy life.
Let’s imagine the vision of ○○ University that we will achieve together. Just as Apple became the number one company in the world by creating a success myth with the iPhone, I hope that our university will become the leader of Korean universities by creating a success story of ‘multi-type technical talents’. Let’s all work together to make this happen. Let’s row the boat of university together and move towards new possibilities. Let’s constantly challenge ourselves with sincerity and passion and support each other.
I believe that together with you, we will be able to fulfill our dreams, and I look forward to the future we will create together here at ○○ University. Thank you.

Alumni President’s Inaugural Address

We have gathered here again to end the year with friends and to prepare for the new year. Today’s gathering is more than just a year-end party; it is a time to reaffirm our old friendships and mutual affection, and to renew our resolve to be together in the years to come. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your unwavering warmth, and I would also like to give a heartfelt round of applause to my friends who have done their best in their respective positions this year.
While serving as your president is a heavy responsibility, I am also learning a lot from my time with you. Our alumni association is more than just a social gathering of individuals, it is a special place where we share our growth and experiences together. The memories we have shared at different moments in our lives have enriched our individual stories, and all of them will eventually remain important pages in our lives. In that sense, today’s gathering will be a precious memory in its own right.
We look forward to spending more time together in the future, sharing our wisdom and experiences with each other, and we sincerely hope that we can establish the Alumni Association as a place of true friends who can support our personal growth and goals, and hold each other’s hands in times of need. We already have a special bond that allows us to understand each other’s minds. However, in order for this bond to grow stronger, we need your continued interest and participation.
We are planning a variety of activities centered around the Motokai to make it easier for more of our friends to reach out to us. We know you are busy, but we hope you will join us whenever you can, and show us your warm interest in helping this group grow gradually. We will also strive to make future meetings more meaningful, with a variety of topics and programs that allow each of you to be the star of the show, inspiring each other.
The presence of each and every one of you here today is what makes this gathering so special, and we hope that you will continue to make it a place of cherished memories and bonding, and that we will continue to be a supportive group of friends in your lives. Your small contribution and participation will make our alumni association stronger, and every time we spend together will be colorful and memorable.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest and participation in our future activities and plans, and wish us all happiness and health. We look forward to creating time to support and encourage each other in the new year. Thank you.

Inaugural speech by the union president

Good morning, everyone.
Dear fellow union members, thank you for joining us today. First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Chairman ○○○ and the entire cadre for their dedication to the union over the past three years. I know that it is because of their hard work and dedication that the union is standing strong today.
I stand here today, humbled by our challenges and goals, and deeply grateful for the trust and support you have placed in us. The situation facing our union is not easy, and there will be many challenges ahead of us, but I have faith that together with you, we can overcome them all.
We are in the midst of a serious crisis. The value of labor is not being respected, and trade unions are facing increasing pressure. Labor unions in Korea are being weakened by greed and irresponsibility on the part of the government and employers, and the field is becoming more difficult every day. The case of Ssangyong Motor is a vivid example of this. After 76 days of fierce struggle, the workers were turned away. Countless workers and their families lost their lives and were left to suffer. We must not forget that this reality is happening everywhere in our society today.
The statistics and data are warning us, but there is a deeper problem that cannot be expressed in mere numbers: ○○ Trade unions are not immune from the risk of decline. Fears that government policy changes could hit our unions are becoming a reality, and this risk will be accelerated if we allow ourselves to become divided and weak.
I am determined to defend the rights and interests of my union comrades and to stand by your side. Above all, I pledge to build a living union, a strong and transparent union that will not be intimidated by the government or employers. The path for our union is clear. It is to become a transparent and trustworthy organization by gathering the strength and wisdom of our comrades, and in doing so, we will blaze a new trail.
To achieve our goals, comrades, the most important thing is unity. Our union can only be strong when all members speak with one voice, not just one person. It’s time to move away from petty grievances and mutual slander and truly respect and trust each other. We will put an end to dogmatic behavior and unnecessary conflict within the union, and create an environment where all members can speak with one voice. With this change in place, we can achieve greater results and create a foundation for all members to grow together.
○○ Dear members!
I believe in your passion and ambition. We still have youthful energy and unlimited possibilities. Together with you, I am confident that we can overcome any challenges. I promise to stand fearlessly in the vanguard in front of you and do everything in my power. I will do everything in my power to protect the rights and interests of my comrades and the development of the union.
Let us stand here today with hope instead of fear, and let us open the door to unity, which is the direction we will take and the goal we want to achieve. With the combined strength of each of us, the ○○ Union will become a stronger and more powerful organization than it is today.
Dear fellow members, when we are all united and fighting as one, we can overcome any difficulties. I take this opportunity today to pledge to you once again. I will keep this spirit of unity and struggle close to my heart and do my best for the union we are all building together. Thank you for listening to me until the end.

Presidential Inaugural Address

Good evening, dear friends.
I see many familiar faces, but it’s still nice and reassuring to see them again like this.
The years have passed, and it seems that much has changed in the way we look at each other now. When we first met as teenagers, we looked at each other with our physical eyes, familiarizing ourselves with our outward appearance, but now we look at each other with the eyes of our hearts and the eyes of our souls, feeling the depths of each other. The eyes of the body or the eyes of reason may be sufficient to simply see the phenomena of things, but it takes the eyes of the heart and the eyes of the soul to understand more deeply the essence of each other and the meaning of the friendship that we have built over the years.
When we met as teenagers, we began to get to know each other even in casual interactions, noticing each other’s physical appearance and thinking, “He’s tall,” or “She’s so handsome.” We understood each other simply for what we saw, and the roots of a pure friendship were deep.
As we moved into our twenties and thirties, we connected on a deeper level, getting to know each other’s hometowns, hobbies, and personalities. Sometimes, our casual conversations over drinks led to fights, and other times, our emotions got the better of us and we got into heated arguments, but these waves of emotion only strengthened our bonds, and we cried and laughed together, becoming friends who have stood the test of time.
By the time we reached our forties and fifties, we had come to accept each other’s strengths and weaknesses, to look at each other with the eyes of our hearts, and now, rather than criticizing each other’s shortcomings, we understood more, encouraged each other, and were comfortable with the heartfelt confession, “I can’t live without you.”
Some of you may have friends from childhood who played on the beach in your hometown, building sandcastles; others from middle and high school who commuted to school by train, laughing and talking together; others who shared the passion and romance of singing “Santa Lucia” on the ferry ride home. We’ve shared so many memories and histories that we can’t help but love each other, even if we don’t understand everything.
Now that we’re in our sixties, we’re at the age where we see only beauty in each other with the eyes of our souls. We no longer look at each other’s flaws, we understand the sincerity in each other’s eyes, and we want to remain friends for life. For us, this friendship will be a song we want to sing again, a poem we want to recite, and a beautiful connection we want to share for the rest of our lives.
As I look out at all of you in this room, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the support we have given each other over the past nearly half a century. I don’t have any hometown friends or elementary school classmates, but you have become dear friends in my life over the past few decades. Over the next year, I will work hard to make sure that we support each other and that we are a chapter that you can be proud of. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to my predecessors for their hard work on behalf of our chapter, and I look forward to deepening our bonds.
Thank you, everyone, from the bottom of my heart.

Inaugural Remarks by the Attorney General

My beloved judicial and prosecutorial family, it has been more than two months since I left the Department of Justice, and now I am back working with you in the important role of Attorney General. I am sincerely pleased, but at the same time, I feel a heavy responsibility. First of all, I would like to express my respect and gratitude to my predecessor, Minister Kim Kyung-han, who has led the administration of justice brilliantly as the first Minister of Justice of the current government. With this opportunity, I will inherit the trust and principles of the judiciary and prosecution that my predecessors have built, and renew my determination to create a Ministry of Justice that is trusted by the people.
As you are well aware, Korea has overcome numerous trials since its founding and has achieved industrialization and democratization at a rapid pace unprecedented in world history on the foundation of liberal democracy. However, North Korea still threatens our security through nuclear development, and there are still forces that deny our system. This situation creates real tensions for us. Our mission to uphold law and order is even more critical in the face of threats to national security and people’s freedoms, and we continue to face illegal rallies and protests that use violent means to disregard the rule of law and undermine public authorities. Corruption at the highest levels of society, such as bribery and graft, is causing great disappointment to the public, and the number of violations of civil and human rights continues unabated.
Public trust in legal prosecutors does not seem to be very high either, and this trust issue cannot be overlooked, no matter how trivial it may seem. In order for the law and justice that the people can truly feel to be realized, each person and each case must be treated fairly and strictly, without exception. I believe that now is the time to take multifaceted measures to address these challenges and raise the standard of Korea. To do so, I and all of you will have to make new resolutions and unite our wills. To this end, I would like to make a few remarks.
First, we must not lose sight of the fundamental values of our constitution, which transcend individual ideological orientation and political lines. It is an ideology that we have sacrificed so much to defend, and it is the best legacy we can leave to our children. If allowed to slip through the cracks, it could be the beginning of the end of our freedom and democracy. Any conspiracy or attempt to jeopardize our liberal democracy must never be tolerated, and we must be vigilant, keeping in mind the historical lesson that a small crack can lead to a major disaster. One small crack can bring down the entire dike.
Second, I ask you to marshal your capabilities and wisdom in establishing a law and order befitting Korea’s international stature. Establishing law and order is a fundamental task of the Ministry of Justice that cannot change even as times change and environments change. As Korea hosts the G20 Summit next November, we need to upgrade our law and order and citizenship to meet global standards. The law is a mirror of a society. By strictly observing the principle of zero tolerance for illegal behavior, we must demonstrate the rigor of Korea’s legal order both domestically and internationally. In particular, we must deal decisively with illegal group behavior that seeks to enforce its claims by using force or violent methods in accordance with the law. The establishment of legal order will never be achieved if we repeatedly deal with cases leniently or softly for reasons other than legal judgment. The same is true for corruption. We know from human history that many nations have fallen because of corruption. We must take stronger and more effective measures to prevent corruption from undermining the health of our society. I believe that a safe, peaceful, and rule-of-law society where law and order are upheld, and a clean society where corruption and irregularities have no place, is the cornerstone of the world-class nation we aspire to be.
Third, we must take the lead in implementing a warm legal administration and protecting human rights for the middle class and the common people. We must become a legal administration that wipes away the tears of the common people through strict crackdowns on criminals who infringe on their livelihoods, such as extortion of protection fees, illegal pyramid schemes, and voice phishing, which increase the suffering of the common people. We must unfold a meticulous and compassionate administration where people in difficult situations can feel comfort and security from the law. We will provide comprehensive and systematic support for victims of crimes so that they can rise above their pain and trials. We must also ensure that the execution of community service orders benefits the common people. We will become a reliable companion in the lives of the common people by developing empathetic policies that help them in their daily lives. In addition, in order for our society to leap forward as an advanced nation, the human rights of each and every citizen must be valued and respected. Let’s create a harmonious and open society where the socially disadvantaged and minorities, such as foreigners, can live proudly as equal members of society. We will also provide practical reintegration support for prisoners so that they can live together as healthy neighbors.
Fourth, we need to become a proactive and changing justice and prosecution organization. In each area of justice administration, we need to reflect on whether we are doing what we should be doing from the public’s perspective. With a humble heart, we should open our minds to the voices of the people and actively seek the changes they truly want. It is time to listen to the changing times and the voices of the people and constantly pursue improvement and change. To this end, we will conduct an objective evaluation and thorough analysis of the entire legal administration. In particular, we will take groundbreaking measures to make prosecution more objective and transparent. We must also overhaul the prosecution investigation method and the investigation public information system in an advanced and human rights-friendly direction.
Dear members of the legal and prosecutorial family, we have inherited a proud country that has grown into one of the world’s top 10 economies thanks to the blood and sweat of our parents’ generation in the wake of war. Our legal and prosecutorial system must also develop further with the support and trust of the people. We have a historic responsibility to fulfill the four tasks I have outlined so far, and to build on the foundation laid by previous generations to ensure that our advanced rule of law infrastructure blossoms. To fulfill this responsibility, we must shift our thinking and attitude to a new paradigm that is people-centered. It is said that Dr. Dasan Jeong Weak-yong always kept in mind that whatever he did should be ‘bimin bose’, that is, whatever he did should benefit the lives of the people and contribute to the world. The Ministry of Justice should also be the last bastion of protecting the safety and human rights of the people in their daily lives. I am about to embark on a vigorous journey toward the destination of ‘Advanced Rule of Law Administration Serving the People’. I believe that with you, we will be able to overcome any difficulties. With your dedicated efforts and support, I sincerely look forward to becoming a prosecutor’s office that is respected and loved by the people.
Thank you.

Greetings at the opening ceremony of the National Diplomatic Academy

Honorable Prime Minister ○○○, President ○○○, and distinguished guests, it is a great pleasure to be here today to greet you at the opening ceremony of the National Diplomatic Academy. It is a great honor to be with you on this momentous occasion and to celebrate the first step of the National Diplomatic Academy. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your generous support and hard work in making this possible.
In 2009, the President directed us to revamp our diplomatic service system to proactively respond to the diverse and complex demands of 21st century diplomacy. Following that directive, the dedication of the private sector professionals and government officials who have worked tirelessly to bring the National Diplomatic Academy to fruition has come to fruition today, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude.
The diplomatic environment surrounding us is changing every day, and the pace and breadth of change is unlike anything we have seen in the past. Due to deepening global interdependence, regional conflicts such as the situation in Iran or the financial crisis in Europe are no longer the affairs of distant countries, but have a direct or indirect impact on Korea’s economy and society. Furthermore, the scope of foreign affairs is rapidly expanding beyond the economy to include issues surrounding the environment, culture, human rights, terrorism, and trade. At the same time, Korea has moved away from its position as the poorest country receiving aid and has assumed an important role in the international community as a member of the G20, which leads the global economy.
To proactively respond to these changes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been actively promoting various diplomatic capacity-building measures. The key to diplomatic work in the 21st century is securing human resources with timely expertise and open-mindedness. The National Diplomatic Academy will select these elite diplomatic personnel and establish itself as an institution that fosters human resources capable of strategically responding to the rapidly changing international environment.
In particular, unlike the Foreign Service Examination, the National Diplomatic Academy has introduced new regional and specialty examinations to select candidates with more diverse careers and expertise, and has reorganized the examination to measure comprehensive diplomatic competence, away from the existing rote knowledge assessment method. Selected diplomat candidates will undergo an intensive, year-long, experience-oriented training program to foster a strong sense of mission as public servants, as well as diplomatic expertise and practical skills.
The National Diplomatic Academy will provide diplomatic candidates with an in-depth education on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ four core values: National Interest First, Serving the People, Contributing to Humanity, and Aiming for the Highest, to help them develop a strong sense of conviction and responsibility as public servants. The curriculum is designed to help each diplomatic candidate become fluent in two languages, one region, and one specialized functional area, and will also include a program to cultivate international business acumen, which will provide a practical foundation for them to serve the national interest and excel as diplomats in the international arena.
In addition, the institute will play an important role in strengthening diplomatic capacities: not only will it continue to enhance the expertise and capabilities of Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff through retraining, but it will also contribute to the development of mid- and long-term foreign policy through exchanges and collaborations with leading research institutions abroad, providing comprehensive and systematic analysis of major international issues. Such research and analysis will help Korea proactively respond to and resolve complex foreign affairs issues facing the country.
In short, the Diplomatic Academy will select talented individuals with international sensitivity, comprehensive thinking, and a wealth of experience and judgment, and provide them with an environment where they can grow into elite diplomats through practical and professional training. I would like to thank all of you for being here today, and I have no doubt that the President and the relevant officials will make unstinting efforts to ensure that all infrastructure, including educational facilities, faculty appointments, and curriculum development, will be fully prepared before the first batch of diplomatic candidates enroll in 2013.
I look forward to your continued interest and encouragement so that the National Diplomatic Academy can contribute to Korea’s leap to a developed country and serve as a driving force in opening new horizons in Korean diplomacy. Once again, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all the distinguished guests for joining us today, and I look forward to this opening ceremony marking a new turning point in Korean diplomacy. Thank you.

Inaugural Remarks by the Minister of Unification

Dear Unification Family, I am very pleased and honored to be here today as a member of the Ministry of Unification and to share with you the journey towards peaceful reunification. First, I would like to express my deepest respect for former Minister Kim Ha-joong, who has led the Ministry of Unification with exceptional passion and leadership over the past year, and I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the dedication and hard work of all staff members who have been working tirelessly under difficult conditions.
Today, the Korean Peninsula is at a critical inflection point like never before. The global economic crisis is affecting our economic environment, and the international situation is changing rapidly by the day. On top of this, North Korea’s hardline attitude is making it difficult for the two Koreas to engage in dialogue and improve relations. The role of the Ministry of Unification has become more important than ever in these difficult circumstances. The more uncertain the situation, the more we must establish a firm vision and strategy, and lead the tide of change. Our goal is to denuclearize North Korea, create a ‘win-win’ inter-Korean relationship, and move closer to the dream of peaceful reunification one step at a time. I believe that this is not only the responsibility of the Ministry of Unification and the government, but also the aspiration of all Koreans.
To all of you who long for reunification, peaceful reunification is a ‘possible dream’ that we all wish for and that can be realized by working together. No dream can be realized unless the goal is clear, and to realize it, we need to be steadfast in our actions. We have now set a specific goal of “coexistence and common prosperity,” and now we must come up with precise plans and actions to realize this goal.
I would like to clarify our principles for peaceful reunification in several ways.
First, we will reflect the President’s national philosophy in our North Korea policy and reunification policy. The President’s philosophy is to create peace on the Korean Peninsula, realize coexistence and co-prosperity between the two Koreas for the future of our nation, and ultimately achieve peaceful reunification. Reunification is the future of the Korean Peninsula and the longing of our nation. To this end, we will reflect the President’s philosophy in our policies, and the Ministry of Unification will move forward with greater determination to realize this goal.
Second, we will maintain the principles and basics in realizing the unification policy, but will be flexible in our approach. While firm principles are important in inter-Korean relations, we need to be flexible to meet changing circumstances. Through this flexibility, we will reduce misunderstandings and conflicts between the two Koreas and further expand the possibilities for cooperation.
Third, we will build trust through sustainable dialogue and cooperation. It is necessary for the two Koreas to resume dialogue unconditionally and establish it as a sustainable institution. Through this, we will lay the foundation for strengthening cooperation between the two Koreas and consolidating mutual trust. I am ready to meet and talk with responsible officials in the North at any time for the development of inter-Korean relations. At a time when it is necessary to meet for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the development of inter-Korean relations, we want to keep the door open for dialogue anytime and anywhere.
Fourth, the denuclearization of North Korea is essential for the comprehensive improvement of inter-Korean relations and the establishment of North Korea as a responsible member of the international community. To this end, we are actively working with the international community through the Six-Party Talks, and if North Korea shows a willingness to engage in dialogue and resolve the nuclear issue, we will actively support it.
Fifth, we will generously cooperate with North Korea on humanitarian assistance, which will be an important avenue for the two Koreas to understand and help each other, and we expect North Korea to cooperate with us on humanitarian issues.
Finally, we will pursue reunification policies based on national consensus. We will humbly accept criticisms from the people, and we will continue to communicate and build consensus with the people. The direction of reunification should be in accordance with the wishes and will of the people, and we will create more solid policies that reflect the voices of the people.
Reunification is like a dream tree that can only grow healthily in soil that is deeply rooted in the wishes of the people. If the people truly want and aspire to reunification, we must listen to their wishes and make efforts to realize them. To this end, we must improve inter-Korean relations, move closer to peaceful reunification one step at a time, and envision the future of the nation together.
Dear colleagues at the Ministry of Unification, our work is not just a job, but a precious mission to be responsible for the future of our nation. I would like to express my respect and gratitude to all of you, who are carrying out a historic task that will contribute greatly to Korea’s leap forward as an advanced nation in the world. Now is the time for all of us to exert ourselves with pride and confidence. The Ministry of Unification plays an important role in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula and creating a foundation for reunification. To this end, I would like to make a few requests to you.
First, we must develop the Ministry of Unification with a forward-looking mindset while remaining faithful to our core tasks. As Minister, I will support you to work with great pride as a member of the “Unification Family.
Second, I will strive to make the Ministry of Unification a capable and efficient organization, competitive in order to fulfill our mission, and a good place to work. I will support you in various ways to improve your working conditions.
Finally, we will listen to your creative suggestions and concerns and reflect them in our policies. We will strive to create an atmosphere where the organization remains vibrant and where employees can participate actively, so that the Ministry of Unification can grow into a more trusted institution for the people.
Dear Unification Family, we are now standing on an unpredictable sailing path, facing seemingly calm waves that could turn into huge waves at any moment. However, we can move forward without fear because we have a strong beacon of the people’s interest and aspirations shining on us. Now, with the compass of “coexistence and co-prosperity,” we will move forward vigorously toward the goal of peaceful reunification. The Ministry of Unification will do its best to lead the North Korean policy, and we will always listen to the voice of the people. Together with you, we will create a future of peace and prosperity. Thank you.