Joint statement by President Biden and President Yoon on the Third Summit for Democracy

STATEMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS

The United States and the Republic of Korea share deep ties rooted in our shared democratic values ​​and respect for human rights, and we commit to further strengthening our robust political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties.

As a reflection of that work, we look forward to hosting together today the second Summit for Democracy, to further strengthen the links between democracies so we can better meet the needs of our citizens and the world. And today we announce that the Republic of Korea will host a future Third Summit.

The Republic of Korea’s democratic institutions are a beacon of strength in the Indo-Pacific, demonstrating to the world that democracy fosters the conditions needed to cultivate lasting security and prosperity. In recent years, the Republic of Korea has emerged as a global leader, thanks in no small part to the Korean people’s continued commitment to increasing government transparency, ensuring effective checks and balances, and developing laws that are responsive to the needs of the public.

Since 2021, the Summit for Democracy process has brought together hundreds of leaders from government, civil society and the private sector dedicated to strengthening democratic governance, protecting human rights and advancing the fight against corruption.

Participating governments have made hundreds of commitments to reform laws and policies, strengthen transparent and accountable institutions, and provide additional support for democratic reformers, journalists and activists. NGOs have used the Summit for Democracy platform to expand their own important work on protecting the most vulnerable and holding their leaders accountable. Businesses have taken action to improve democratic resilience through their business practices and engagement with workers, communities and other stakeholders.

Strengthening transparent, accountable governance, based on the consent of the governed, is a fundamental imperative of our time. Working together among strong, resilient democracies is essential to tackling the world’s greatest challenges: maintaining shared security and prosperity, tackling the climate crisis, advancing global health and pandemic preparedness, and ensuring that new and emerging Technologies work for and not against democratic societies.

We are proud to continue our work together to ensure that the momentum built by the first two Summits for Democracy continues into the future and reflects the global leadership of these efforts.

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