The past year had not been without regrets, but it had also been filled with rewards, said President Lee Myung-bak on Dec. 30. He also stressed the need not to make the same mistake twice.

President Lee made the remarks at this year''s last Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae that day. He added, "We''ve faced difficulties since the new government was inaugurated. But you don''t necessarily need to remain too cautious. You''d better cope with the situation in a bold and cool-headed way."

The President, meanwhile, asked the Cabinet members not to focus only on their own ministry''s work, but always look around to get a wider perspective.

The President went on to say, "When we started, we shouldered heavy responsibilities for implementing complicated historical tasks and faced various kinds of difficulties. From a different perspective, this could be a rewarding chance and we could feel happy to work under such unheard-of circumstances."

He also said that the officialdom will change only when civil servants always work with positive minds and a more thorough sense of mission.

At the briefing session, Cabinet members renewed their determination to work harder in order to turn the economic crisis into an opportunity in the new year, said Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Lee Dong-kwan.