President of Yoon Suk Yeol met The Elders
an international senior advisory group
President Yoon Suk Yeol has met various international figures who visited Korea on May 30th to exchange views on major international issues, including Former Irish President Mary Robinson, former Mozambique Minister of Education Graça Machel, and former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland.
The president evaluated that The Elders, as an adult of the international community, has long devoted themselves to the peace and prosperity of the international community and has demonstrated leadership. The president said that the Republic of Korea will further expand responsible diplomacy and contribute diplomacy based on the universal values of freedom and the rule of law and international norms.
The Elders emphasized the unity of the free world, citing North Korea's challenge to a non-proliferation regime and Russia's invasion of Ukraine against the principle of respect for sovereignty. They also said that Asia's role is important in implementing the Net Zero goal, especially hoping that South Korea will take the lead in sharing and transferring green technologies to the Global South. The organization also stressed that the international community should speak with one voice in responding to North Korea's nuclear weaponsand raising human rights issues in North Korea.
In response, the president said that peace without freedom is unsustainable in any case and a country that respects the freedom of its citizens can respect the freedom of other countries. Furthermore, each country should pursue internationalism, not nationalism, and advocate foreign policies according to standards that are not relativistic or subjective and meet common sense.