South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol delivers historic speech at the U.S. Congress on Global Alliance for Freedom and Peace and North Korean Human Rights.

Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is on a state visit to the United States, presented a ‘global alliance to protect freedom and peace’ as a blueprint for the ROK-US alliance.

In a speech at a joint meeting of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives held in Washington, DC on the 27th (local time), President Yoon said, “We will serve as a compass to protect and expand the freedom of citizens around the world together with the United States.” He also mentioned that he would “go forward with the United States into the future.”

“Korea will fulfill its responsibilities and contributions in the international community befitting its enhanced economic capabilities,” he said.

On this day, President Yoon’s speech to the U.S. Congress was conducted in English for 43 minutes. It is said that President Yoon put a lot of effort into this speech.

This is the seventh time that a Korean president has stepped on the podium in the U.S. Congress, and the first time in 10 years since former President Park Geun-hye in May 2013. He is the fifth to give a speech in English, following former presidents Syngman Rhee, Taewoo Roh, Daejung Kim, and Geunhye Park.

In a 43-minute speech in English titled ‘Aliiance of Freedom, Alliance in Action’, President Yoon put ‘freedom’ as the key keyword.

In particular, after looking back on the ‘freedom journey’ that the ROK-US alliance has been together for the past 70 years, it is time to step up into a ‘global alliance’ that protects freedom and peace in the world.

When President Yoon declared, “Now, for the sake of human freedom, the Republic of Korea will definitely do what it must do by joining forces with the international community,” the crowd erupted in applause.

He also emphasized “free solidarity” against liberal democracy, saying that it is threatened by “false propaganda” and “false information” worldwide.

As an extension of that, it strongly condemned Russia’s armed attack on Ukraine, calling it a “unilateral attempt to change the status quo.” He did not directly mention Russia.

President Yoon pointed to North Korea’s armed provocation as a representative example of a threat to free democracy.

In particular, he insisted that South Korea and the United States should take a firm and united response against North Korea’s armed provocation, saying, “While South Korea accompanied the United States for freedom, North Korea abandoned freedom and prosperity and turned away from peace.” He also mentioned the need to accelerate security cooperation.

In addition, the focus was on North Korean human rights issues, and President Yoon directly mentioned the human rights abuses of residents by the North Korean regime. It introduced candid cases that appeared in the ‘North Korean Human Rights Report’ recently published by the current government, such as being publicly executed for watching a Korean TV drama.

President Yoon urged the international community, especially the U.S. Congress, to make efforts to address the poor human rights situation of North Koreans.

He also expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue for the denuclearization of North Korea.

President Yoon introduced the “Bold Initiative,” a roadmap for denuclearization, and emphasized, “Stop provocations to North Korea as soon as possible and come out on the right path.

About 500 U.S. senators and representatives attended the 43-minute speech in English.

When President Yoon said, “BTS came to the White House before me, but I came to Congress first,” laughter erupted in the hall. It was a kind of ‘ad-lib’ that was not in the pre-distributed speeches.

President Yoon also joked, “Even if you didn’t know my name, you would have known BTS and Blackpink.”

During the speech, a total of 61 applause came out, including 23 standing ovations, and some lawmakers cheered during the standing ovation.

On this day, President Yoon drew attention by mentioning K-content, which is also loved in the United States, several times.

In particular, “Cultural content is becoming a catalyst for the people of the two countries to build deeper understanding and friendship beyond differences in nationality and language,” he said, citing the Academy Award-winning Korean films ‘Minari’ and ‘Parasite’ as examples.

President Yoon also said, “Many Hollywood movies such as Top Gun and The Avengers were loved in Korea,” and “I also really like Top Gun Maverick and Mission Impossible.” The mention of Mission Impossible is also something that was not in the original manuscript.

Meanwhile, President Yoon is known to have put a lot of effort into his speech to the National Assembly that day.

The first thing he said to his aides while preparing for this parliamentary speech was, ‘Don’t be condescending, let’s go with easy words.’ According to the presidential office, President Yoon received an English speech draft before the trip and said, “Even if you graduate from middle school, you can understand it.” It is said that he sent it back, saying, “I have to write it easily so that it can be used.

President Yoon’s speech in English is a hot topic in Korea as well.

Online, “I was surprised by the confident and confident English pronunciation”, “The speech development itself was impressive”, “Korea’s national prestige has risen”, “The dignity is different”, “I am proud as a Korean”, “I will also work hard at English” ” and so on followed.

In addition, there was an opinion that “the courteous attitude of US lawmakers listening to the speech and the standing ovation as a sign of encouragement and support are touching” and that it is an exemplary case that Korean lawmakers should learn from.