President Moon "will make all efforts to return to normalcy"

from COVID-19 and emphasizes the excellence of Korea’s disease control and prevention system at his 2022 New Year's Address

2022 New Year’s Address “deeply grateful to anti-epidemic workers and medical professionals"

During his 2022 New Year’s address, President Moon Jae-in expressed his gratitude and respect to the medical professionals and personnel working to contain and prevent COVID-19 and restressed the excellence of Korea’s disease control and prevention system.

 

The president also expressed his ambition to achieve complete recovery of the peoples’ lives by strengthening epidemic prevention and control in the new year.

 

While delivering his New Year’s address at Cheong Wa Dae on the 3rd, President Moon Jae-In said,” Korea’s response to the virus has risen to prominence on its merit amid the global fight against COVID-19." “During the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government and the people have come together as one to surmount crises.

 

We have turned those crises into opportunities while demonstrating once again the potential of the crisis-resilient Republic of Korea.

 

This achievement has been made possible by combining the efforts of the Government, the dedication of medical professionals, and our people’s strong sense of solidarity.” President Moon said, "We stand again on the starting line of a New Year.

 

I wish everyone a happy New Year and a year to make yet another leap forward, inspired by the tiger’s vigorous energy.

 

Even at this moment, our anti-epidemic workers and medical professionals are struggling in freezing temperatures.

 

Once more, I extend my profound respect and gratitude to them.” President Moon emphasized that moving toward normal daily routines while strengthening epidemic prevention and control is the starting point for a full recovery and that the country's anti-epidemic measures have begun to take effect.

 

He expected that as the number of confirmed cases will continue to decrease, the number of severely or critically ill patients will also decline soon.

 

However still, the president expressed concerns over the rise of COVID-19 cases due to the spread of the Omicron variant.

 

The president is determined to make all-out efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis that arose from the variant and achieve complete recovery in the people's lives.

 

President Moon said, “The administering of booster shots and the inoculation of adolescents are also picking up speed, and a great number of hospital beds and medical professionals are being secured.

 

Starting this month, pills for oral COVID-19 treatment will be dispensed.

 

However, it is too early to let our guard down as the number of newly confirmed cases is breaking records around the world due to the Omicron variant." “We will work intensively to overcome this crisis.

 

With a long-term perspective, the government will nourish hope for a return to normal life by riding out the difficulties along with the people in a steady manner.

 

It is truly regrettable that our people are facing growing hardships in their livelihoods with tightened anti-epidemic measures being extended and a return to normalcy being delayed.

 

I’d like to give special words of comfort to the microbusiness owners.” While mentioning the upcoming presidential election in March, the president expressed wishes for the election to become an election of unity that embodies the hope of the people, instead of hostility, hatred, and division.

 

President Moon said, “With the presidential election up ahead, I hope that the election will become a celebration of democracy in which a candidate is chosen by the people through fierce competition, for the sake of people’s lives and the country’s future.

 

Our people are the master of politics, and their participation is what advances democracy and raises the level of politics.” He added, “As an administration devoted to overcoming the crises and pioneering the future, my administration will work at full capacity for the remaining four months.”