A collection of inaugural greetings for mayors, government ministers, prime ministers, and the chairman of the Financial Services Commission.

Mayor’s inauguration greeting

The more rugged the ridge, the more beautiful the mountain, and the more rugged the waves, the more beautiful the mountain. Honorable ○○-gu residents, and guests who have gathered here to celebrate my inauguration, I sincerely thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come and congratulate me. I stand here today with gratitude, joy, and determination. I am truly grateful to all of you who have gathered here to celebrate and honor me.
I am overjoyed to be able to serve with you for the next ○ years, but I am also filled with a heavy sense of responsibility and trepidation because I know the wishes and expectations of the people who put me in this position. I have traveled this road with great difficulty, and I have been tempted to give up halfway, but I have paid a high price with the belief that the only person who can stop me is myself.
I will do my best to fulfill the expectations of my constituents and build a new ○○-gu with all my experience, abilities, passion and sense of mission. I will work hard to implement the projects that I have always envisioned for ○○-gu and that have been concretized in response to the wishes of the residents. First of all, I will make ○○-gu an educational special zone. I have the ambition to establish a special purpose high school and create an English village to expand English language learning opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school students. We will make the schools that our children attend now into good schools that everyone wants to come to.
I also have a blueprint to become a ‘welfare mayor’ by creating ○○ wards that live together. Specifically, by ○○, I will install at least one national and public childcare facility in each ward, and I will implement my plan to attract a national veterans hospital and a dementia hospital for the elderly. I will shed my precious sweat to build a livable ward with local development in ○○-gu.
Let’s get together with a heart that starts once again with a new order and a paradigm of change. Let’s gather your wishes in one place and move forward vigorously to achieve the development of ○○-gu. I hope that you, too, will become a resident of ○○-ku who is confident in the future and can navigate the rough waters together.
Finally, I promise to be a mayor who dreams with you, accomplishes with you, and grows with you. I wish you unlimited development and good luck, and this concludes my inaugural speech. Thank you.

Sample inaugural speech for an elected mayor

Honored and beloved residents of ○○, I am ○○○, who was elected mayor of ○○ with your full support and generous endorsement. First, I am deeply honored to be inaugurated as your mayor, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your support, strength, and wisdom during the campaign.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “The future is good because it comes one day at a time.” My fellow constituents, I am truly excited about the future we are about to embark on with you, one day at a time. Aren’t you looking forward to a brilliant future with me, ○○○?
Last year was a year of numerous development projects, including the redevelopment of the ○○ area and the restoration of the ○○ stream, which I believe instilled dreams, hope, and confidence in the residents of ○○. This year, however, we will not be satisfied with this, but will go one step further and transform ○○ into a ‘people-centered luxury city’ through development for people.
I will utilize my legislative activities and practical experience to gather wisdom to provide the best administrative services to residents. I will travel to every corner of the district to meet with residents and listen to their stories, and based on this, I will plan and execute administrative services that are essential to residents. Now that we are in the ○○○ era, a new history will be made when all ○○ million families and all ○○ district officials work in unison and make dedicated efforts.
During the election campaign, I met you with the slogan “Welfare Mayor,” and now I will work with the ambition of making ○○-gu the best in the city in the field of welfare. As I begin my duties as mayor, I will do my best to improve the welfare and quality of life of residents by creating conditions for various cultural facilities, large and small, to be built in our ward.
I believe that the ultimate goal of a local government is the satisfaction of its customers, the residents, and a comfortable administration. I will raise the brand value of our ○○-gu and make you feel proud of yourselves. I will implement a lifestyle politics that will make you feel happier than living anywhere else.
I will be a mayor who works harder, more diligently, humbly, and with a lowly attitude so that you can live in a comfortable and pleasant living environment. I promise to work with an attitude of service and sharing.
I will cherish the meetings with you and strive to be a council that comes closer to you. I sincerely hope that your constant laughter will bring happiness and good fortune to your families. Thank you.

Sample inaugural speech by the Prime Minister

Honorable members of the public, State Councilors and officials, first of all, I would like to thank the National Assembly and the people for giving me the opportunity to serve as Prime Minister. As I am sworn in as Prime Minister today, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility to the country and its people, and especially as I went through the parliamentary hearings and appointment motions, I realized how big and important the task I have to do for the people is.
We are standing at a very important time in history. We are responsible for transforming the fruits of democratization and industrialization, which have been achieved through the blood and sweat of our people, into a ‘greater Korea’ and an ‘advanced first-class nation.’ I am confident that our great people are up to the task of the hour, and that our national capabilities are fully capable of supporting this.
But the external environment that surrounds us is by no means easy, and domestically, we face many difficult challenges, including unnecessarily amplified conflicts and confrontations. To move beyond all these challenges and become the world-centered nation we all aspire to be, the unity and unity of our people is paramount.
Honorable people, @@@ President @@@, in his last Liberation Day celebration speech, presented the realization of a ‘fair society’ as a new national direction. It has long been my wish to create a society where “freedom blooms like a wild flower and justice flows like a river”.
A fair society and a warm society are the most important prerequisites for becoming an advanced, first-class nation. The first step to this is to create a society where ‘laws and principles’ are firmly upheld. ‘Laws and principles’ are not a means for the powerful to rule, but the foundation of a fair democratic society where all people live together. Wrongful systems and practices must be corrected, and cheating and evasion must be eradicated to build a society where human values and trust are respected.
The second is communication and harmony, which is the surest way to resolve all conflicts and confrontations in our society. We need to bring people together by increasing communication across regions, ideologies, and generations. We should try to understand the other side before we try to convince them. All problems should be solved through dialog and compromise, even if it takes a little longer.
The third is “sharing and caring. We all depend on each other to survive. Your neighbor’s joy and happiness brings you more joy and happiness. Sharing and caring is not only something we do for others, but also something we do for ourselves and our community. We should sincerely care for and embrace the weak, the poor, and the marginalized. Our government and social leaders need to spend more time and effort on this.
I have been a lawyer all my life, working to implement laws and principles, to protect the vulnerable, but I believe there is still much more to be done. As Prime Minister, I pledge to devote myself to building a fairer and more compassionate society above all else.
With this pledge to myself, I would like to make a few requests to all government ministries and officials.
First, we need to take a more integrated and macro view in making and implementing our various policies. We are literally living in a time of transformation. The challenges that governments must address are endlessly interconnected and evolving. Approaching them only from the perspective of individual ministries often leads to unforeseen obstacles. It’s important that the government and its officials agree on the direction the country should take, and that policies are well-consulted. In the process of implementing policies, we must always look at the changing environment and check whether things are on track, and I will actively support public officials to work in this manner.
Next, I want to emphasize the timing and responsible enforcement of policies. When formulating policies, all foreseeable circumstances should be taken into account in advance. This is the basis for creating coherent and realistic policies. It also minimizes the risk that policies will be ill-timed and fail to deliver. Coordination and information sharing between ministries is crucial for this. In addition, it is essential to check whether the people feel that the established policies are effective. This is especially true for policies that are intended for the common man, and I will be watching closely to see if government ministries are implementing the basic principles of these policies.
Finally, let us all reflect on whether we are serving the people once again, especially the marginalized, who often do not have the opportunity to voice their concerns. I have great faith in our government’s ability to deliver, and in your sense of duty to serve. I look forward to working with you to meet the challenges of our time.
Dear civil servants, I reiterate my determination to fulfill my powers and responsibilities as Prime Minister as prescribed by the Constitution and laws. I will also do my best to create the conditions for public servants to work for the people and the nation with pride and enthusiasm. I pledge to take the lead in fulfilling President @@@’s great intention of building an advanced, first-class nation through the realization of a ‘fair society’ with all of you. I look forward to you, the public servants, joining me with renewed determination. I will work hard, thank you.

Inaugural Address by the Prime Minister

Honored citizens, beloved public servants across the country,
I am honored to serve as the first Prime Minister of the ○○○ Government. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to President ○○○ and members of the ruling and opposition parties for this opportunity. The ○○○ government is the product of the Candlelight Revolution, which took place over a period of six months from last winter to spring, with a total of 17 million people participating. The Candlelight Revolution began as a desperate protest asking, “Is this the country?” and led to a hopeful determination to create a “country worthy of a country.” The Candlelight Revolution began with despairing anger at the government’s incompetence, incommunication, and bias, and continues to the present day with hopeful support for the new government.
In this context, it becomes self-evident what kind of government ○○○ should be. It must be a “government of governments” that will build a “country like a country.” The cabinet I am ordered to lead must also be a “cabinet-like cabinet.” A “cabinet-like cabinet” is a cabinet that is competent, communicative, and unified. I am convinced that this is the minimum mandate of the Candlelight Revolution.
First, it must be a competent cabinet, competent in everything it does: cleaning up the mistakes of the past, solving the problems of the present, and preparing for the challenges of the future. It must be competent in correcting unequal, unfair, and unjust systems and practices in many areas; in solving the problems of the day, including jobs, housing, childcare, education, welfare, economy, security, and foreign affairs; and in preparing for the future of the country, including the Fourth Industrial Revolution and peaceful reunification. Every ministry in the government has its own past, present, and future, and I want them to exert their abilities toward that past, present, and future. I will always keep Korea’s past, present, and future in mind, and I will be the “closest prime minister” to resolving these issues.
Second, it must be a cabinet of communication. The government should not be trapped within the government and the cabinet should not be trapped within the cabinet. The government should be in the people, and the cabinet should be in the people. It should be a cabinet that breathes with the people, cries with the people, and laughs with the people. Each ministry of the government should always give the best explanation to the people about the work they are in charge of, and stand with the people who experience pain or inconvenience related to the work they are in charge of. I would like to share with you my favorite Chinese saying, “Citizen is like a wound,” which means “When you look at the people, look at their wounds,” and I would like to share it with you as a public servant. I would like to be the “lowest prime minister”, almost removing the walls of protocol and security, and interacting with the people from a lower level.
Third, it must be a unifying cabinet, one that cuts across ideologies, regions, and generations to serve all Koreans unitedly. Our country has no future in fragmentation, and I want a cabinet that practices transparency in all aspects of life, from raising and spending money to doing business. I hope the leaders of the government ministries will keep this in mind. My assumption of the important role of Prime Minister is also a result of Tang Ping. I will continue to be the “fairest prime minister” by leading the way in practicing transparency.
Dear public officials,
The Candlelight Revolution did not end with the inauguration of the ○○○ government. The Candlelight Revolution is still ongoing. The government is not the end point of the Candlelight Revolution, but a pathway. The officials of the ○○○ government are the instruments of the national task to fulfill the orders of the Candlelight Revolution. In the process of carrying out the national task, I believe that each government ministry must fulfill at least three things.
First, the direction of the national task and the direction of each ministry’s work should not be inconsistent.
Second, there should be no discrepancy between the desirable pace of national tasks and the actual pace of each ministry’s work.
Third, there should be no discrepancies between the work of related ministries in carrying out national tasks.
Today is the first time I’m meeting you, the public servants, and I’ve said a lot of things to you. I believe in the capabilities of the public service. My 21 years of experience as a journalist, 14 years as a member of the National Assembly, and three years as governor have taught me how capable and dedicated public servants are. I am fortunate to be running the ○○○ government, which was launched with the heaviest historical responsibility of any government in history, with you.
Let’s work together. Thank you.

Inaugural Remarks by the Chairman of the Financial Services Commission

Good morning, Financial Services Commission staff!
The new year of 202○ has dawned, and I am very pleased to be here with you to kick off the new year.
I wish you and your families good health and happiness this year. It’s often said that a difficult and demanding position is “like an in-law’s guest room,” and I think that’s exactly what the timing and duties of this position are.
It is with a deep sense of duty and great responsibility that I take on the role of Chairman at this critical time. First, I would like to thank you for your efforts to stabilize financial markets and develop the financial industry during the unprecedented global financial crisis. I would also like to express my sincere respect and gratitude to my predecessor, Mr. Jin Sung-soo, for his leadership in overcoming the financial crisis under difficult conditions.
Looking back on the past year, we quickly and exemplarily overcame the financial crisis amidst difficulties such as the delayed global economic recovery and the European fiscal crisis. We also demonstrated leadership as the G20 Chair to build consensus on major financial reforms, and we marked a new milestone in affordable finance with the introduction of microfinance followed by the Sunshine Loan.
However, despite these tangible achievements, many challenges are piling up like a zip file, including PF loan non-performance, household loan growth issues, and lack of global competitiveness.
Dear Finance Commission staff!
On my first day in office, I propose to you, “Let’s build a PF that is relevant to the people”. We need to be able to say, “This is the Financial Services Commission that helps me,” or “This is ‘our’ Financial Services Commission that solves my problems,” or “I’m glad we have a Financial Services Commission.” It’s not an easy road, but I’m going to walk it with you, encourage you, support you, and help you along the way. I look forward to your support and commitment.
Dear Financial Services Commission staff!
Let me briefly touch on some of the key issues that we will be pursuing in the coming years.
First, the establishment of “financial market stability and order”. Financial firms are the main players in the financial industry, and they must play a big role in the development of the financial industry. To this end, the FSC must respect the autonomy of the financial industry as much as possible, while encouraging them to develop themselves through creativity and innovation. Ultimately, we must ensure that finance is positioned as a future growth industry that contributes to the development of Korea. However, the autonomy of the financial industry must be predicated on the basic fundamentals that drive the financial market: order and discipline. The government will safeguard the stability of the financial market by establishing order in the financial market.
The Financial Services Commission will firmly and strictly hold accountable those who disrupt and distort market order, and take firm action to stabilize the market in situations where market failure is a concern. The mere ‘presence’ of the Financial Services Commission will ensure that market order and discipline are upheld.
Second, effective support for the real economy. The financial sector needs to further fulfill its primary function and role of financing the real economy. In particular, national challenges such as supporting new growth engines, declining birthrate, and aging population are difficult to succeed without adequate financial support, and the role of policy finance is crucial.
Third, we need to enhance the competitiveness of the financial industry. Changes in the domestic and international environment, such as the reform of global financial regulations, should be utilized as opportunities for the development of the financial industry, and efforts should be made to strengthen new business capabilities and expand overseas expansion. It is also urgent to advance the financial infrastructure by implementing the action plan for each task in the G20 agreement.
Fourth, proactive response to market instability. As we have experienced in the past, vulnerabilities in financial markets will become bigger and more difficult to resolve if we do not respond proactively. The Financial Services Commission, as the guardian of the market, must continue to monitor the financial markets in greater depth and be proactive in its response efforts. We need to stabilize household loans and quickly clear PF loans that are in trouble to prevent unnecessary spread of the crisis. We also need to implement measures to improve the soundness of foreign exchange, prevent market liquidity from becoming unbalanced, and proactively respond to global financial market instability.
Fifth, we must internalize financial inclusion. It is said that once upon a time, when the prodigal son was traveling down the road, he saw a puddle of water where the wheel of his cart had passed, and a crucian carp was gasping for air in that small puddle. When the prodigal son offered to “fetch water from the river,” the crucian carp angrily replied, “All I need right now is a little water.”
As you may know, the ancient Chinese phrase “hakseolji” (涸轍之鮒) means “emergency measures are as important as fundamental prescriptions”. For the poor, microfinance and sunshine loans are as precious as water. We will continue to increase the accessibility of microfinance and establish Sunsalon.
Dear Financial Services Commission staff!
As you know, none of our challenges are easy, but I believe that if we share this vision and mission, have a sensible action plan, an organizational culture that does not lose sight of the basics, and relentless execution, we will be able to accomplish them. Let us encourage ourselves by recalling the words of Winston Churchill: “A pessimist sees only difficulties in every opportunity, but an optimist sees opportunities in every difficulty.”
Dear Financial Services Committee staff!
The talent and enthusiasm I see out there is enough to make me proud to be your senior. However, I would like to add a few workplace behaviors.
First, professionalism. I call someone who specializes in a particular field on the longitudinal side, but shows broad experience and networking on the transverse side, a “T-shaped talent.” You need to be such a talent to paint a broad and big picture.
Second, communication skills. Appliances need to be plugged in to work. Similarly, you need to be plugged in to the financial markets and the financial industry at all times. Just as a good public speaker makes eye contact with the audience, you need to make eye contact with the financial markets and read the flow so that you can detect risks and react proactively.
Third, bold and decisive execution. You need to be able to breathe the air to accurately diagnose problems, take control of the situation quickly, and focus on the core to solve them. Sometimes, you need to take responsibility and make bold decisions.
Fourth, respect and consideration for those in the financial industry. It’s called “caring for others,” and it’s a habit of being considerate and putting yourself in their shoes. Officials should be able to hear small complaints loudly, and they should be equipped with maternal sensitivity and warmth.
Dear Financial Services Commission staff!
Let’s re-check our coordinates and orientation, and get in line before the new year’s work. It is said that many strategies in Sun Tzu’s Art of War can be summarized in four characters, “Feng Lin Huashan,” which refers to the ever-changing strategy of moving troops in battle: be swift as the wind, calm as the forest, fierce as the flames, and serious as the mountains. I expect the Financial Services Commission to be more proactive and creative than anyone else in responding to the rapidly changing internal and external environment. I want the pulse of our financial industry to be thumping. I look forward to adding sparkle to the lives of the common man.
I wish you all a very happy new year. Thank you.

Inaugural remarks by Vice Minister of Finance

I feel truly undeserving of this position; I feel as if I am wearing clothes that are too big for my body, and the economic, political, and social difficulties we are currently facing make this feeling all the more real.
But just as individuals mature through difficulties and challenges, so too can economies heal and become stronger as they overcome crises. The difficulties we are going through, and even the crises to come, should be seen as a ‘blessing in disguise’ for our economy.
To that end, I want to share with you how I want to work. First, I want us to be proactive. We need to anticipate change and prepare policies one step ahead of the curve. We can’t just fix things after they happen. We need to abandon the idea of finishing the job, and remember that there is no tenure in economic policy. Let’s be proactive and take responsibility for what needs to be done.
Next, I hope we can come together around a common goal. Now is the time to pull together and work through the crisis. Just as there is no such thing as a First Secretary’s office and a Second Secretary’s office, we need to break down the silos and increase communication. When we are united, the entire economic team will be united, and we will be able to navigate the difficult waters ahead.
Finally, I would like to emphasize humility and staying low. For policies to have the intended impact, we need to take a hard look at how they are delivered to the end user and whether they are working on the ground. You need to put the field before logic, and to do that, you need to let go of your elitist mindset, be humble, listen a lot, learn, and get your feet wet.
Employees, the greater the challenge, the greater the response. We can overcome any complex crisis, no matter how difficult, if we work together. Let’s stay positive, confident, and do our best. Your passion and dedication will brighten the future of our economy.
Thank you.