Good morning, fellow Koreans,

Much unexpected snow fell at the beginning of the New Year. First of all, I sympathize with those of you who are suffering from the heaviest snowfall in 100 years and the cold spell gripping the country. I am grateful to the many people who have worked hard to clear the streets in freezing temperatures.

I began the first day of the New Year by visiting Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong. Every time I have been faced with a moment of truth, I have made a visit to the National Cemetery. I did so when I announced my candidacy for the party nomination for president, when I was chosen as a presidential candidate and when I was sworn in as President. There, standing before our patriotic forefathers who sacrificed everything for the nation and the people at a time when the fate of the country was like a candle flickering in the wind, I was able to pull myself together with a profoundly solemn mind.

Each time I go there, I am reawakened to the realization of how tremendous my responsibilities as President are and what true fortitude and genuine love of country are all about. I also gain strength and wisdom to take on new challenges for the future.

After paying tribute at the Memorial Tower on the first morning of the New Year, I made visits to the tombs of our three former Presidents, including President Rhee Syngman, President Park Chung-hee and President Kim Dae-jung. I wanted to reflect on their significant roles in shaping today’s Korea, ruminating on the history of the Republic of Korea from the founding of the nation to industrialization and democratization.

Since liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Korea has pulled off remarkable achievements unprecedented in modern history. Among approximately 130 nations that newly gained independence after the end of the Second World War in 1945, the Republic of Korea is the only country that has accomplished both industrialization and democratization.

President Rhee Syngman, President Park Chung-hee and President Kim Dae-jung were all right at the center of the tumultuous history of the Republic creating a legacy of success.

It is, however, regrettable that we have been stingy in appreciating and acknowledging what our past Presidents have achieved. Public opinion about previous Presidents has been sharply divided based on an us-versus-them mind-set, plunging the country into confrontation and hostility. The Presidents “on my side” have been held in high esteem even with their faults glossed over, but the Presidents “on your side” have been harshly criticized.

I want to make it absolutely clear at this moment. No president can belong to any specific side. All our Presidents have been the President of the Republic of Korea. For this reason, they are the Presidents of us all.

We need to look for historic reconciliation among different camps dedicated to the founding of the nation, industrialization and democratization. Under previous Presidents, they were not able to mend the estranged relations with one another. It is our task today to solve the problem.

Looking back on our past, I wonder what our life would now look like if we had not based the country’s foundation on free democracy and a market economy during the founding of the nation. If it had not been for industrialization that helped the nation emerge out of desperate hunger, how could the Republic have dreamt of becoming an advanced nation? But for the prolonged process of democratization, how could the Republic have cast off the yoke of underdevelopment? All the chapters of the Republic’s history, whether we feel proud of them or not, are an invaluable legacy that we have to embrace. I hope we will all be able to appreciate that the Republic we are now living in, an achievement that makes our heart swell with pride and joy indeed, has been built upon all such historic moments. 

Of course there are ups and downs that are unique to each era. Now is the time to remain focused on the upsides. Only when we have self-confidence in the nation’s past history and achievements will other countries show respect towards us. It is also necessary to see the upsides, instead of the downsides, to march forward. The urgent thing that we need to do now is to pool our wisdom in order to turn confrontations and conflicts of the past into a driving force for future progress.

It is with this mind that I paid respects at the graves of the former Presidents on the very first day of the New Year.

My fellow Koreans,

The Republic has already started leaving indelible, historic footprints on the global scene. At the end of the last year, Korea became the 24th member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee. In other words, Korea became a donor country shedding its status as an aid beneficiary, which has so far not been done by any other country.

On top of this, the Republic will host the G-20 Summit in the capacity of the chair of the G-20 this year. This carries far greater significance than simply holding the chairmanship of the global forum considering the fact that the Republic rose from its long-running poverty and painful history. Many media outlets from home and abroad project that the summit in Korea will have tremendous importance in world history.

The economic crisis that hit all countries across the globe hard made the old global order nonfunctional, thereby strongly raising the necessity for a new order. During these times, the Republic is playing a leading role in coming up with a new, post-crisis international order by sharing our vision and solutions with other countries.

At the First G-20 Financial Summit held in Washington D.C., I emphasized that if countries retrogress to protectionism, they could not overcome the crisis, which was well received by many countries. In addition, the low-carbon, green growth initiative aimed at preemptively dealing with the pressing global issue of climate change has already become a generally accepted guiding principle.

The world is faced with a significant watershed in terms of human civilization in a rapidly shifting global order. Against this backdrop, I understand that now there is a golden opportunity for Korea to take yet another leap forward. We should not waste this opportunity.

My fellow citizens,

I would like to reiterate what I said last week in my New Year Policy Address to the Nation. That is that it is necessary to pay keener attention when rendering help than when receiving assistance. Figuratively speaking, when we provide help, we need to be more polite, handing over something with both hands, remembering how we felt when we were on the receiving end.

That is right. It is about time for Korea to come forward and actively help other countries that are experiencing more hardships than we do. In fact, Korea began to help less privileged people in Africa and Asia starting in the 1980s in the name of various religious and relief organizations.

Many donor nations began to help developing countries only after they became a substantial economic power. But we began to reach out to unfortunate people in distant lands even when we were in difficulties ourselves. With a sense of pride, I give heartfelt thanks to the organizations and other people concerned who have been writing a history of universal love before their Government did anything in this regard.

Now, the Republic of Korea has begun to attract world attention. Advanced nations are watching Korea with amazement as it takes an initiative to usher in a new international order. In the Republic, emerging countries see hope for their future.

Depending on how well we do, our country should be able to present a new model that will be recognized in the international community. To this end, what is most urgent for us is to put an end to the vicious cycle of internal conflict and division. The need for harmony and integration is of greatest importance. In order to achieve that, we have to establish a culture in which everyone recognizes and respects everyone else. When our collective will and strength is channeled into one whole, I firmly believe that the dream of becoming a leading advanced nation, to which we all aspire, will be materialized in the not-too-distant future.

Fellow Koreans,

I wish you all and your families good health and happiness throughout 2010.

Thank you very much.