Good morning, fellow Koreans,

Mountainous regions have already had snow. Ipdong, the onset of winter by the 24 solar divisions of the year, falls on this coming weekend. I hope you all take extra care not to catch cold at the turn of the season.

What should be noted is the fact that the H1N1 flu is spreading rapidly as the weather gets chilly. For its part, the Government is doing as much as it can to promote public health, but I am very concerned that there is still great public anxiety. I urge you to instruct your children to strictly follow basic hygiene guidelines every day, including washing hands as often as possible.

Last month, I visited three Southeast Asian countries. Following visits to Vietnam and Cambodia, I went to Thailand to attend the Korea-ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN+3 Summit and the East Asia Summit. During these three multilateral summits, I was able to meet with leaders of 15 nations.

On the day after I returned home from the trip, I met with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria. Just days before I left for the Southeast Asian countries, I had a summit with the Japanese Prime Minister in Seoul and the following day with the Chinese and Japanese Prime Ministers in Beijing.

It was quite a tight schedule, but I managed. I am being a bit long-winded about my busy itinerary because I want to speak with you about how breathtakingly fast the world is moving and what and how the Republic of Korea should do at this juncture.

The first stop on my recent tour was Vietnam, a country that evokes some painful memories for Koreans because of our participation in the Vietnam War, which was part of the Cold War conflict. Nonetheless, the people of Vietnam greeted me with a truly warm welcome, indeed.

While I was there, our two countries agreed to upgrade the diplomatic relationship to the same high level that Korea has with Russia and China, the former socialist nations.

At the economic development forum hosted by business leaders from the two countries, I said, “There are a lot of things for Koreans to learn from the forward-looking attitude of the Vietnamese who never dwell on the past.”

Cambodia was my next destination, and I received a warm welcome from the citizens of the capital city of Phnom Penh. Numerous people turned out on the street to welcome me, some even waving my picture. When visiting Angkor Wat, we were accompanied by the Prime Minister and his wife.

Noting that Korea is Cambodia’s development model, Prime Minister Hun Sen asked me to upgrade the level of bilateral collaboration between our two countries. For my part, I requested that the visas of Korean businessmen working in Cambodia be extended, thus allowing them to engage in business under fewer constraints. On the spot, the Prime Minister made a decision to extend the one-month visas to one year.

The Prime Minister asked me to see to it that Cambodian workers and those who emigrated to Korea because of marriage are treated kindly by Korean society. In particular, I was deeply touched when he said that he hoped that I would regard Cambodian women living in Korea as my own daughters-in-law from Cambodia. 

I thought to myself that I would have to make efforts to understand those who have come from other countries to work and live in Korea with a warm heart and caring concern.

My fellow citizens,

Touring Central Asian countries in May, I found out that Korea had served as a role model for many countries there. Many Asian countries welcome us in order to learn from our development experiences. 

On my way back home, I became lost in thought. Just 50 years ago, Korea was one of the most impoverished nations in the world. From a time when it could not survive without assistance from the international community, Korea has now achieved such remarkable progress. This fact filled me with a great contentment.

I was limitlessly proud of the Republic as it is today and the Korean people, the leading performers of this miracle.

At the same time, I felt a sense of grave responsibility. Rather than pursuing only economic profits, it is imperative for Korea to win the hearts of people of other nations by meeting them with a genuinely friendly attitude and sharing our growth experiences. We have to transform our country into a warm-hearted neighbor and a partner in prosperity that is recognized for its caring concern.

On the other hand, I thought that we have to discard the way of thinking that regards our nation as a peripheral nation—which I have mentioned on several occasions before. Befitting the elevated status of the nation, we now need to voice what we have to say on significant matters related to our nation without reservation. 

That is what we mean by a global Korea, and that is the way we will go in the march for building a greater Korea.

Asia abounds in natural resources and is home to a half of the world’s population. It accounts for 48 percent of Korea’s international trade.

That is why I have laid out the New Asia Initiative.

The ASEAN region has been the arena of intense competition between China and Japan. The two countries have long invested enormous resources there and have quickly taken dominant positions in the regional market. Korea made inroads in the region belatedly, but is determined to steadily solidify its position, enhancing bilateral ties in a faithful manner with each member of ASEAN. Cooperative efforts will be implemented in a win-win fashion.

Fortunately, Korea has been able to maintain good relations with Indonesia and Vietnam, two important members of ASEAN.

The President of Indonesia as well as the Prime Minister of Australia has become my close friends. During our recent meeting, the President of Vietnam and I decided to call each other brother, going beyond close friendly ties.

Many ASEAN countries also showed keen interest in the fact that Korea was elected as the host and chair nation of next year’s G20 summit. I promised them that the Korean Government would make a point of speaking for the developing nations as well as all Asian countries at the G20 meeting.

Currently, Korea is making the fastest economic turnaround in the world. International media organizations are reporting one after the other that the general status of Korea as well as its economic situation is getting a boost in the international arena.

But we know this is not a time to let our guard down. Patients with severe illness should be particularly cautious to maintain good health at the time of their recovery.

I will strive to help the Republic become an increasingly respected and admired nation in the international community. I will continue to do my best to enhance the prestige of the country and help it fulfill a role befitting its status.

I hope you will all be able to begin another new week energetically.

Thank you very much.