President Moon's Final Request, "Continue and Integrate the Achievements of Previous Governments"

[경향신문]

On His Way Out: President Moon Jae-in gets off work and walks out the main gate of Cheongwadae on May 9, his last day in office, and waves to the citizens who came out to greet him. Kang Yoon-joong

President Moon Jae-in left Cheongwadae surrounded by over 10,000 cheering citizens on the evening of May 9, his last day in office. He finally “got off work” 1,826 days after he was inaugurated on May 10, 2017.

President Moon, who is likely to be the last president to reside in Cheongwadae, spent the previous night in Cheongwadae and this morning visited the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul and the graves of independence fighters in Hyochang Park in Yongsan-gu, Seoul along with first lady Kim Jung-sook.

The president returned to Cheongwadae, and at 10 a.m. he calmly practiced the speech, “Dedication to the Great People,” which he had prepared for this day, in the lobby of the main building for twelve minutes. President Moon said, “As president, I will put down a heavy burden,” and added, “I will now return to a life of an ordinary citizen and support the successful history of the Republic of Korea.” The president also mentioned that South Korea had leaped to become a country strong before adversities, a country that no one could shake, and a country leading the world.

Last Present: President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook thank the citizens raising a cake and flowers they received from the people who came out to greet them as they head out of Cheongwadae at the water fountain in front of Cheongwadae on May 9. Yonhap News

President Moon asked the incoming president Yoon Suk-yeol (Yoon Seok-youl) to “continue and develop the achievements accumulated by previous governments” and hoped the new president would lead the country toward a better future. To do this, President Moon said, “Bringing the hearts of the people together as one is the most important of all.” He also said the country will truly advance on a road to success when we can heal the wounds of conflict that deepened during the election and head toward a path of integration and unity.

After the president practiced his speech, he presided over a meeting of his aides. In the afternoon, President Moon engaged in his diplomatic duties, attending a meeting with Halima Yacob, the president of Singapore, and Wang Qishan, vice president of the People’s Republic of China, who were in Korea to attend the inauguration of President Yoon. Forty minutes before President Moon left Cheongwadae, he approved the resignations of three cabinet members including deputy prime minister and minister of education Yoo Eun-hae and completed all his tasks. Around 6 p.m. President Moon said goodbye to over 700 Cheongwadae staff.

Thirty minutes later, President Moon stepped onto a stage set up near the water fountain in front of Cheongwadae. “Should I run for president again?” With his face somewhat flushed, the president began his speech with a joke. President Moon said, “Now that I got off work for the last time, my heart is very light because I feel like I have put down a heavy burden.” He continued and said, “My wife and I will try to live well so that people can say, ‘They are a pleasing sight.’” When he asked, “Was I a successful president?” the citizens answered, “Yes.” The president responded by saying, “Thank you. (Now) Help me to become a successful former president.”

President Moon will attend the inauguration of the new president, which will be held at the National Assembly on May 10, and then board a KTX train at Seoul Station to Ulsan (Tongdosa) Station. He is expected to arrive in Pyeongsan Village in Habuk-myeon, Yangsan-si in Gyeongsangnam-do, where his private residence is located, at around 3 p.m.