Foreign Minister Cho Hyun: UN "Faces a Test" Amid Protracted Conflicts; Korea Must Contribute

81st United Nations Day Ceremony
Lee Joongkeun: "If United Nations Day Is Designated a National Holiday, I Will Donate a Building in Seoul Comparable to the UN Headquarters in New York"

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on the 23rd, "The United Nations (UN) is facing a grave test today due to protracted conflicts, the climate crisis, and the emergence of artificial intelligence. We must contribute our efforts so the UN can demonstrate the value of solidarity and function more effectively."

Attendees, including Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Lee Joong-keun, president of the United Nations Association of Korea and chairman of Booyoung Group, observe national rites at a ceremony marking United Nations Day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Government Complex Seoul, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on October 23. 2026.10.23 Photo by Cho Yongjun

Speaking at the ceremony marking the 81st United Nations Day, held that morning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs annex at Government Complex Seoul, Cho said, "The time has come for the Republic of Korea to respond to the challenges facing the UN. We will fulfill our role as a global pivotal state." He served as South Korea's ambassador to the UN from 2019 to 2022.

Cho said, "When the Korean War broke out in 1950, 22 UN member states fought alongside us to defend the freedom of the Republic of Korea. With the UN's support, the Republic of Korea achieved industrialization and democratization, and this year marks the 35th anniversary of its accession to the UN." Referring to the Dongmyeong and Hanbit units, which are deployed in conflict zones, he stressed, "The Republic of Korea has gone from a country that received help to one that provides help."

He added, "The UN is important to the Republic of Korea not merely because of our ties in the past. The Republic of Korea's peace today and prosperity tomorrow are both deeply connected to the UN." With the election of a new UN secretary-general approaching, he also said, "Cooperation among member states is needed to enable the UN to take a new leap forward. The Republic of Korea will actively join these efforts by the international community."

Unlike in previous years, this year's ceremony was co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Association of Korea. In his opening remarks, Lee Joongkeun, chairman of the United Nations Association of Korea and Booyoung Group, expressed his gratitude, saying, "This is a truly meaningful day: for the first time in 51 years since United Nations Day was removed from the list of public holidays in 1976, it is being observed as a state-level event."

Lee said, "October 24, United Nations Day, should be designated a national holiday. Filling the gap in the UN's presence in Asia would help ease tensions in Northeast Asia and contribute to security on the Korean Peninsula, while enabling the region to emerge as a hub of multilateral diplomacy." He added, "If the day is designated a national holiday, I hope to donate a building in Seoul comparable to the UN headquarters in New York and bring in various UN agencies, creating an opportunity for the Republic of Korea to establish itself as a central pillar of peace and prosperity in the international community."

In a video address, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, "The UN, which protected and helped us, is now facing serious difficulties both inside and outside the organization. The strongest criticism stems from its inability to properly fulfill its core function of maintaining international peace and security because the UN Security Council is paralyzed." He continued, "The international community's confidence in the UN system is being badly shaken." However, he emphasized anew the value of cooperation through the UN, saying, "Since the challenges we face cross borders, solutions are possible only through international solidarity and cooperation."

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also said in a video address, "We must reflect once again on the values that formed the foundation for the creation of the UN." He urged the world to "choose dialogue over division, cooperation over confrontation, and solidarity over fear."

The United Nations Day ceremony commemorates the UN's official establishment following the entry into force of the UN Charter on October 24, 1945. About 350 people attended, including government officials, members of the press, foreign diplomats based in South Korea, international organizations based in South Korea, the Korean Liberation Association, and the Korean Constitutional Association.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.