CHO TAE-YUL, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, noted that the year 2024 has sadly earned the distinction of being the most conflict-ridden since the Second World War.
Two billion people, or roughly one in four, reside in conflict zones; 310 million people require humanitarian assistance; and more than 120 million, or one in 70, are refugees.
with his nation’s very existence as a free, democratic and prosperous country as the proof that “the United Nations in action works”.
It was the first-ever UN-led coalition that defended the freedom and democracy in the Republic of Korea ravaged by war in the early 1950s. “We need more of the UN in action, not less,” he affirmed.
The Republic of Korea is one of the core contributors to UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts around the world, and advocates strengthening peacebuilding architecture, with the Peacebuilding Commission at its core.
Expanding elected membership under equitable geographical distribution and through regular elections will contribute to a more democratic, effective, transparent, representative and accountable Council.
As the first country to transition from an aid recipient to a donor nation, we firmly believe that we can and should be the tide that lifts other boats,” he stated.