Good morning, fellow Koreans,

Last week, I visited a vocational rehabilitation facility for people with disabilities in Pocheon city and a traditional market in Guri city, both in Gyeonggi-do province.

The country’s credit rating has recently inched up and stock prices are rising, showing a clear sign of economic recovery. However, the recovery seems to be still far off for working class people.

Those doing business in traditional markets or people with disabilities at vocational facilities are working really hard despite their tough situation. I visited them in person to give them words of comfort and encouragement as well as to listen to what they have to say about their difficulties. To my surprise, however, I was the one who took heart from them; they greatly inspired me.

You may find it a bit difficult to understand the recorded remarks by Mr. Jeon, a 30-year-old gentleman with a disability, who I met last week.

He is married and is now expecting to be a father next month. Although he has a severe disability, he is now very pleased because he can work, and he really hopes to be able to continue to do so.

I could feel the genuine happiness from his expression when he said he would be able to live a happy life with his family as long as he has a job. Touched by his words, I felt a heavy sense of responsibility. I made the following comment in response.

Cheong-eum Gongbang, a manufacturer of wooden furniture, is currently employing 29 workers with disabilities. Through work, they are realizing their dreams and hopes. Presumably for that reason, they looked bright and stated their opinions with confidence.

The spirit espoused by the company was “unwavering self-respect.” This phrase was posted on the entrance of the company building and its delivery vehicles.

Workers of the company were not sitting idly by simply waiting for protection and benefits. Rather, they were filled with confidence; they are leading their lives with enthusiasm standing on their own feet. On top of this, they were convinced about the quality of goods they are producing.

The significance of jobs cannot be overemphasized. A job provides a means to make money, but more importantly, it constitutes a means that allows one to live with dignity and take a path to happiness. 

The visit to the company helped me realize the fact that those with hearing problems can outdo others in a very noisy workplace. When it comes to simple, repetitive work, those with mental disabilities can also do as well as any other person. I came to the realization that what matters the most is to create jobs tailored to each different disability.

Workers at the company were especially pleased because, for the first time, their company had been chosen to supply a large quantity of shoe cabinets for apartments built by SH Corporation in Seoul. They asked me to help their company supply shoe cabinets as well to public rental houses to be built by the Government. It would be especially meaningful if goods produced by those with disabilities are used for the public rental houses. In this respect, I said they could contact me whenever they needed help, whether related to public rental housing or receiving other orders. The Government will create jobs that can meet the needs of those who are physically challenged and pay more attention to policies that help find new markets for the goods manufactured by them.

Of course, the Government will provide due care for those who cannot work because of disabilities. In addition, the Government will start paying basic disability pensions to those with severe disabilities starting from July 2010 and provide long-term care from 2011. 

Fellow Koreans,

Ninety percent of all people with disabilities are said to have sustained their disability through accident or illness after they were born. That means there is a good chance that anyone can become disabled during their lifetime. To build a society where physically challenged people can lead happy lives means to build a community where every citizen can go about their business in a secure, happy environment.

Returning from Pocheon to Seoul, I made a stop at a traditional market in Guri city. I wanted to see with my own eyes how the government’s new gift certificates are working. That is because the certificates are being used advantageously by many people, revitalizing the traditional market as intended.

I bought 200,000 won worth of the certificates after waiting for some time in front of the sales office and used them to purchase what I needed. A lot of the merchants there said that the use of the certificates should be further promoted.

They are convenient for consumers as they can be used in any traditional market in the country. And the prices at the traditional markets are some 15 to 20 percent cheaper than in regular stores. I hope more and more consumers will take advantage of the gift certificates.

While walking around the market, I was approached by an old lady who asked me to get a job for her son. She said that her family is in a desperate need. She said the small company where he works is not paying her 44-year-old son regularly because the employer is financially strapped. I got the son’s name and address to see if I can help him.

This kind of experience is painful. But I do not lose hope for those people because they continue to work hard to better their lives. The Government will strive to nurture an environment where hard workers like those I met at the market will be able to maintain and achieve their hopes and dreams.

Last week, Mr. Chung Un-chan was named as the new Prime Minister, along with other cabinet members, and the Cheong Wa Dae secretariat was reshuffled as well. The new lineup at the top of the Administration will work under the guiding principles of centrist pragmatism. It will place the highest priority on stabilizing people’s economic life and on creating new jobs.

As a new week begins, I would like to close my remarks with the same words that I heard from the merchants at the traditional market. Take heart! We can do it!

Thank you very much.