(Unofficial Translation)

In just two weeks, after raising the social distancing level on November 19 and again on November 24, we are elevating it once more for the Seoul metropolitan area to Level 2.5. This decision is based on the judgement that the enhanced levels of social distancing and epidemic prevention measures previously employed cannot contain the spread of COVID-19. With a heavy heart, I deeply regret that the spread of the virus could not be curbed despite the earlier reinforcement of disease fighting efforts and that the further elevation this time will bring immense burdens and inconveniences to the people.

We have overcome numerous crises sparked by the spread of COVID-19, but the present situation is more serious than any previous crisis. Imperceptible infections and transmissions are spreading rapidly in places where we go about our daily lives. The number of confirmed cases with untraceable infection sources is also increasing. If the current trend persists, we have to worry about the possibility of our healthcare system, including hospital beds and medical personnel, being weighed down. 

If we fail to stem the spread of COVID-19 as soon as possible and leave the pandemic raging out of control across the country, the people’s safety and livelihoods could be vulnerable to a devastating blow. The Government will do everything possible to fight the disease with extraordinary determination, understanding that this will be the final critical juncture to prevent the virus from spreading until vaccines and treatments can be employed. 

I must urge the people once again to comply with these more stringent epidemic prevention guidelines. Voluntary compliance with these measures by each and every citizen has become particularly urgent because the virus is being spread unwittingly where we interact daily. We can prevent its proliferation if we simply comply with such basics of epidemic prevention and control as wearing masks and refraining from close contact.

In particular, I would like to make a request to the people as we will soon observe Christmas as well as ring out the old year and ring in the new. During the Chuseok break, we pulled together to fight the virus while observing the holiday. Even though we were unable to visit in person, we still joined together with others in our hearts. We now need to go even beyond that. I understand that all of you have numerous people to meet and many places to visit, but I am pleading with everyone to refrain from meeting and traveling as much as possible to assist with epidemic prevention and control.

It has been an arduous year, indeed, starting and ending with COVID-19. The global COVID-19 caseload has already exceeded 66 million with the number of fatalities surpassing 1.5 million. During this global pandemic, Korea has been a model country in the fight against the virus. The international community has consistently labeled Korea’s response to COVID-19 as excellent - the system even helped enable the safe administration of the College Scholastic Ability Test. The Government will make all-out efforts to ensure that we continue to build on our achievements to date and bring our fight against the virus to a successful conclusion.

As President, I feel truly sorry that the current political situation is causing concern at a time when we all, without exception, need to come together for epidemic prevention and control and people’s livelihoods. Meanwhile, I sincerely hope that the current turmoil will not last long and that it will be the final labor pains for democracy and reforms. Once problems can be resolved through democratic procedures and processes, our democracy will become more solid.

Our country is rapidly developing into a powerhouse not only economically, but also in such soft power as democracy and human rights, epidemic prevention and control, healthcare and medical services, cultural capabilities and diplomatic stature. If anything has been gained while fighting COVID-19 this year, these developments would be it. We have come to realize not only the fact that we are not far behind countries that once seemed to be way ahead of us and our distant future, but also the fact that there are areas where we are actually more advanced and exemplary. We have come to take pride in this. Korea’s democracy has evolved even further through the great Candlelight Revolution, and now it is moving toward the phase of resolving the last, long-overdue task.

Reforming law enforcement agencies remains one of our biggest tasks. In my inaugural address, I pledged to the people that I would make law enforcement agencies completely independent from politics and create a mechanism to keep these agencies in check so that none of them could wield unfettered power. This showed my resolve to ensure that no law enforcement agency could reign over the people as was the case in the past. Based on the constitutional spirit that all state authority shall emanate from the people, my Administration has steadfastly continued to strive for the reform of law enforcement agencies despite many twists and turns. It has never been my Administration’s intention to leave this task for the next administration no matter what the difficulties. Now, we have reached the final phase of the efforts to bring this to fruition.

During this regular session of the National Assembly, we now have an opportunity to finally complete the institutional reform of law enforcement agencies. This historic moment is opening a new chapter in Korea’s democracy. In line with the principle of checks and balances, I hope that this reform-related legislation passes without fail, so the power of the National Intelligence Service, the Prosecution Service, the police and other law enforcement agencies will be decentralized and they will be reborn as institutions that serve the people. I would also like to see the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials launched.