Good morning, fellow Koreans,

From the start of the New Year, people in many places around the world have suffered disruptions in their lives. Unusually heavy snow and sweltering heat waves probably due to climate change have wreaked havoc in a number of countries. In particular, Haiti is now in the depths of despair because of the disastrous earthquake that hit the country. It is, however, fortunate that such a calamity has drawn global attention with aid coming from many countries.

The Korean Government, too, immediately dispatched a rescue team and medical staff. Religious organizations and non-governmental groups are proactively participating in relief efforts. I am deeply grateful to our citizens who are joining in helping Haiti. As it is the first catastrophe to the international community since Korea became a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee, the Government is making utmost efforts, paying extraordinary attention to the situation.

By the time you listen to this broadcast, I will have arrived in India, the first destination of my scheduled overseas trips for this year. On my last trip in 2009, I went to Abu Dabi in the United Arab Emirates. It is truly significant that I closed last year and am beginning the New Year with trips to Asian nations.

As many leaders and distinguished academics around the world predict, I think the world will revolve around Asia in the 21st century. Asia has emerged as a new growth engine in the global community, and it is forecast to account for 35 percent of world GDP in 10 years. 

Every country and every business around the world should keep a mindful watch on Asia if they want to achieve sustained growth. For this reason, I have striven to make the vision of the New Asia Initiative come true throughout the past year in many parts of the world, ranging from Australia and New Zealand to Southeast and Central Asia. My visit to India this time constitutes the culmination of such efforts for the New Asia Initiative.

I wonder what idea comes to your mind first when you think of India. I have much interest in the ancient story found in the Samguk yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms. According to the account, Queen Heo Hwang-ok who was married to King Kim Suro, the founder of Gaya, was a princess of Ayudha in India. For this reason, the members of the Gimhae Kim clan still today do not marry the members of the Gimhae Heo clan. It remains uncertain whether this is historic fact or myth. Still, an indisputable fact is that Korea and India have engaged in bilateral exchanges for 2,000 years.

I reckon that each and every listener of this broadcast has a different impression of India. It is because India is such a vast nation.

I am paying special attention to this country as I highly evaluate its potential. With a population of 1.15 billion, India has posted an average of 9 percent economic growth over the past five years. In the face of the global economic crisis, the nation achieved the remarkable growth of about 7 percent last year, thus playing the role of a locomotive for the economic turnaround across the globe. I am convinced that the current bilateral trade volume, hovering around the US$15 billion level, will double in the near future. Even some experts predict that in 30 years, India will become a major powerhouse with an influence matching that of China.

As of now, several leading Korean businesses, including Hyundai Motor Company, LG, Samsung and POSCO, have advanced into the Indian market. When young, middle class people in India are asked what they want the most when they get married, they say Hyundai automobiles, Samsung TVs and LG washing machines. India will become a land of opportunity for Korea on many fronts.

After retiring from the Seoul Mayor’s office, I made a visit to India. On my visit to Bangalore, an Indian version of Silicon Valley, I discussed a variety of issues with the then Indian President.

In my address to the Confederation of Indian Industry, I expressed the opinion that Korea and India had to conclude a free trade agreement as early as possible. The reasoning was as follows: the two Republics are pursuing free democracy, and given the fact that both countries’ industrial structures are not on a collision course, any increased engagement in free trade would help enhance the economic compatibility between them, thereby boosting mutual benefits.

Fortunately, the Korea-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed and went into force on January 1. The Korea-India CEPA as well as the FTAs that Korea concluded with the EU and ASEAN last year will pave the way for more jobs and exports, contributing greatly to our economy.

India does not have any FTA with the EU, China or Japan. The Korea-India pact seems to be the first major one for that country.

The Government will do its best to streamline various systems so that young people of the two countries can exchange visits freely, creating or finding jobs in the other country.

India is a strong IT powerhouse. If the two countries join together in the 21st century characterized by business exploration by IT industries, we should be able to contribute to the advancement of the world as well as each other.

Thanks to convergence between industries, the impact of IT goes beyond the IT industry per se, emerging as the infrastructure and essential element of production for all industries. Nowadays, young people are particularly fond of working in finance or the culture contents industries. When these sectors are backed up by IT, many attractive jobs will be created. I will try even harder to create new jobs in the IT convergence industry.

Even now, 120,000 Koreans and Indians travel between the two countries every year to learn about each other. In the future, the two countries will expand exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, history and education as well as the economy, promising even greater progress.

In India, January 26 is Republic Day, the largest national holiday celebrating its independence. Every year since the 1970s, India has invited the head of state of a major country as a main guest. In this year’s special celebration of the 60th anniversary of India’s independence, I have been chosen as the main guest. I really feel that it is the result of Korea’s rising status. I will return home with good results from my trip.

Today marks the beginning of the last week of January. I hope we will be able to renew our New Year’s Day resolutions.

I wish you good health and an energetic week.

Thank you very much.