Remarks made at National Assembly event

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae delivers congratulatory remarks at a ceremony marking the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration and inter-Korean military agreement, held at the National Assembly members' office building on Friday. [Yonhap]
Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae delivers congratulatory remarks at a ceremony marking the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration and inter-Korean military agreement, held at the National Assembly members' office building on Friday. [Yonhap]

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae said Friday that leaders must follow through on their promises of reform — not merely state them — to earn the public's trust, respect and love.

Choo made the remarks at a ceremony held at the National Assembly marking the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration and inter-Korean military agreement. "A commitment to peace must be accompanied by the first concrete steps to realize it," she said.

"Now is the time to pick up the pace toward peace and to show our people that the commitment to peace is real," Choo said. "It truly matters where a leader's gaze is directed."

She added that when leaders persuade others with eyes that sincerely long for peace and work to unite hearts, the public will find the courage to lend their support and rise again together — even when progress stalls or falls short of what can be achieved alone.

Choo's remarks came after President Lee Jae Myung held a press conference that morning emphasizing his commitment to prosecutorial reform, among other issues.

However, outside the venue, Choo declined to answer questions about whether her comments were directed at President Lee.


keg@heraldcorp.com