ROK's Moon calls for peace in farewell address

SEOUL－In his farewell speech on Monday, the Republic of Korea's President Moon Jae-in said he hopes efforts to restore peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula will continue.

Moon leaves office on Tuesday following a single five-year term, handing over presidential power and responsibilities to conservative Yoon Suk-yeol, who is set to be sworn in on Tuesday.

"Peace is the condition for our survival and prosperity. I heartily hope that efforts to resume dialogue between South (ROK) and North Korea (DPRK) and establish denuclearization and peace would continue," Moon said in the nationally televised speech.

He also said his government helped ease tension on the Korean Peninsula and raised hopes for peace through diplomacy.

"The reason why we failed to move further forward wasn't because we lacked effort and determination to do that. There was a barrier that we can't overcome only with our determination. It's a barrier that we should overcome," Moon said.

For the past five years, the ROK has pursued a policy of engagement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, brokering summits between DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un and former US president Donald Trump. But the summits ended without a deal. Last month, Moon and Kim exchanged letters expressing hope for improved bilateral relations.

Achievements hailed

Moon said he hopes the Yoon government will "continue the successful history of the Republic of Korea by inheriting and developing accumulated achievements of previous governments", reported Yonhap News Agency.

During the 10-minute speech, Moon listed some of the achievements of his government, including pandemic management measures that have brought COVID-19 under control, an economic recovery from the pandemic, and an initiative on carbon neutrality.

Moon thanked his fellow countrymen for helping his government make such achievements, saying that he is proud of working with them during his term.

Former prosecutor-general Yoon, 61, of the main conservative opposition People Power Party, won the presidential election held in March. Yoon defeated his major rival Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party in the neck-and-neck race.

Xinhua - Agencies