Good morning, fellow Koreans,

I have recently met with a lot of people in person and listened to what they had to say. I have also read carefully those writings posted on the bulletin board of the Cheong Wa Dae website.

Today, I would like to talk about those postings.

Many people have asked when the economy is going to turn around and when their living conditions will improve. In fact, that question makes my heart ache and feel heavy.

Last week, the OECD and the IMF announced that Korea’s economic growth rate for the next year would be the highest among the OECD member countries. However, it will take some time until the economy recovers in practical terms, and it will take even more time until ordinary people see improvement in their lives. I am determined to do all I can to the best of my ability to put the economy back on the right tract in the latter half of this year. I will redouble efforts to take care of the everyday needs of ordinary citizens.

Many people including Mr. Jung Geun-young posted a question about the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project casting doubt about whether the Government would push for the Grand Waterway Project under a disguised name. Quite a few people including Mr. Kim Chul-woo took issue with the river restoration project suspecting whether the 20-trillion-won project would benefit only construction companies. Reading these postings, I felt really frustrated, indeed.

That is because I feel so much regret over the public mistrust in the Government. I want to take this opportunity to make it absolutely clear. It is my belief that the grand waterway is needed for the future of the Republic of Korea. There has been no change in that belief.

I have envisioned it ever since I began to work in the private sector, long before I entered politics. As a matter of fact, in 1996 when I served as a lawmaker in the 15th National Assembly, I proposed to the Government that the grand waterway be constructed at all costs. Thus, the project became the centerpiece of my presidential campaign pledges.

Despite all this, I made myself clear that I would not pursue the Grand Waterway Project unless it was backed by a public consensus. That is because I knew there would be a risk of it emerging as a politically contentious issue causing a split in public opinion.

As a matter of fact, the core of the Grand Waterway Project is to link the Han-gang river with the Nakdonggang river. However, my Administration does not have such a plan to connect the two rivers. In addition, the project will not be initiated during my term of office.

For all that, we cannot afford to leave our rivers, one of the most important resources in the 21st century, as they now are.

My fellow Koreans,

If the Han-gang had been left unchanged, could it have been reborn as the beautiful river of today?

Several weirs were built at Jamsil and Gimpo, the water volume increased, pollution sources were blocked and the waterfront areas were reengineered, which all combined to create this clean river. As a result, a great variety of fish, including a rare goby minnow, is known to be found in the river nowadays. 

The same is true for the Taehwa-gang river in Ulsan. It was severely polluted in the past. However, the bottom was dredged, which allowed abundant water to flow, and the river was reengineered in an eco-friendly manner. Now, the river has become a treasure of the city. Someone told me that it was impossible to swim in the Taehwa-gang. I asked why that was so. When he answered that it was because of the countless fishes living in the river, we could not help bursting into laughter. 

This is the very goal of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. Over the past five years, the annual average damage caused by floods amounted to 2.7 trillion won and the restoration expense 4.3 trillion won. Barring all other expenses such as the budget for the improvement of water quality, tinkering with rivers has ended up costing the nation over 7 trillion won every year. If we invest the three-year Government budget earmarked for that purpose in restoring rivers, we could bring life back to the nation’s rivers in a comprehensive manner for the future.

By securing enough water, improving its quality and restoring the ecosystem as well as preserving cultural legacies in the vicinity of rivers, it will be possible to increase the value added from the rivers. Then, the investments in the rivers will be able to generate returns tens of times over. I hope all of you will be very clear on this matter from now on.  

With such a philosophy, I came to embark on the Cheonggyecheon restoration project. Many people opposed the idea till the very last moment. Now, however, many citizens, including its opponents, are very happy to stroll around the restored stream, aren’t they?    

Many netizens expressed views concerning the need for communication and national unity. Mr. Park Jae-young earnestly asked me not to forget the oath I took at my inauguration that I would work as a servant of the people. Mr. Park Jeong-ju and many other people voiced apprehension about the division and confrontation plaguing Korean society. I really appreciate their advice.

Some time ago, I was stunned by the Samsung Economic Research Institute’s report that the cost of Korea’s social conflict amounts to a whopping 27 percent of the GDP. Unless we overcome political and social conflict and division, it will be difficult for us to build an advanced nation. I have a strong feeling about that, and I believe you will feel the same way as well.

Recently, I suggested that I would pursue middle-of-the-road pragmatism. In saying this, I never meant to take a new ideological stance. I just meant we all should strive to refrain from engaging in conflict and divisiveness and instead join forces in the interest of the country and the people, particularly middle and low-income families.

Ms Cho Min-jeong, Mr. Lee Rok and other netizens pleaded with the Government to pay special attention to the hardships encountered by low-income people. Some of them proposed that those whose driver’s licenses were revoked for penalties accumulated in the course of their job activities should have them restored. The Government will consider a special amnesty for those people in a positive light.

As I reiterated on many occasions, however, socially prominent people who are convicted during my tenure for abuse of power and other irregularities will not be granted amnesty. 

Mr. Song Jin-suk, Mr. Seo Gi-jeong and other individuals appealed to me to strive to build a nation where families do not have to be overly concerned about the high cost of childcare and private education. 

Mr. Kim Min-gyu described how anguished he is because of the lack of job opportunities. Mr. Han Tae-gyo depicted the extreme hardship he had to face working in the sizzling Middle East region.

Deep in my heart, I thank all the citizens who cared enough to write me and give me good advice. I promise that I will work even harder listening carefully to the voices of the citizens.

I wish you a good day.

Thank you very much.