제16회 미주 한인의 날 문재인 대통령 축사 / President Moon Jae-In remark on 16th anniversary of Korean American Day
Fellow Korean Americans and distinguished guests, my sincere congratulations on the 16th anniversary of ‘Korean American Day’ As we mark this day in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, today feels all the more meaningful and special Together with the Korean people, I extend my warmest regards to you all When our ancestors first arrived in Hawaii 118 years ago, although they were struggling to make ends meet, they helped and encouraged one another, building their lives and settling down together This very spirit of sharing still lives on today in its purest form It is anything but a coincidence that a small community that only had 102 members now celebrates ‘an era of 2 55 million Korean Americans’ They supported their neighbors like family, and rooted for their work as if it is their own When they accomplished what they had aimed for, they never forgot the favors done by the community and led dynamic development of the community as a whole Despite their own difficulties caused by the coronavirus, overseas Koreans extended a helping hand to neighbors in need of help By donating masks to local hospitals, welfare facilities, and police, they gave hope to local community In particular, the year 2020 can be said to be ‘a year of dramatic changes’ that will go down in the history of Korean Americans Four Korean Americans were elected to the Federal Congress, making not only the Korean American community but also both the US and the ROK proud Their election will surely be a positive turning point in the enhancement of ROK-US bilateral relations I am truly proud of and grateful to each and every one of you Fellow Korean Americans, thanks to your efforts to preserve and promote Korean culture, it has now become a popular mainstream in American society K-pop and Korean movies such as the BTS and Parasite have touched the heart of many Americans Korean athletes, Hyun Jin Ryu, Kwang Hyun Kim, Jin Young Ko, cannot make us any more proud to be Koreans Having won the US National Book Awards the same year, Korean poet Don Mee Choi and novelist Yu Miri also have shown to the world the rich tradition and great depth of Korean cultural arts With the Korean American community recognized for its exemplary role in American politics, economy, society, and culture, our two countries could build stronger friendship and trust The ROK-US alliance has advanced into one promoting shared values that works together for not only peace and security but also democracy and human rights, and international solidarity and multilateral cooperation Going forward, our two countries will continue to muster forces to tackle global challenges such as COVID-19 and climate change The Korean government will do our utmost to ensure the safety of overseas Koreans, and to help the second, third and following generations to keep their Korean identity In three days, on January 16, two years of our efforts will come to fruition, with the Act on Consular Assistance for the Protection of Overseas Korean Nationals entering into force By providing more systematic and better consular assistance, we will protect lives and safety of overseas Korean nationals This year, with the aim to complete it by 2023, we will embark on a new project of establishing the Education and Culture Center for Overseas Koreans It will be a place where our future generations at home and abroad meet in their home country, and learn about their proud roots and about one another We will listen to the voices of Koreans in need of our help, and also contribute to their recovery from the COVID-19 crisis Through various projects to support fragile Koreans abroad - the low-income workers, the unemployed, and the elderly -, we will nurture hope for a brighter post COVID-19 era together Fellow Korean Americans and distinguished guests, although we may live far apart, love for our country is no different The donations and masks you sent last spring have greatly tided us over the spread of the coronavirus We will never forget your sacrifice for and dedication to Korea’s economic development and democratization We will try harder so that we can make Korea a country that fights for each and every one of you I hope that today will be a beginning of a prosperous New Year driven by the power of inclusiveness and co-existence, and look forward to meeting you again in good health I wish you all a Happy New Year Thank you #제16회 #미주한인의날 #한인
