Good morning, my fellow Koreans,

It is still hot during the day, but the period of Cheoseo, the limit of heat, is here. According to 24 solar divisions of the year, this period marks the end of hot summer. Soon we will be able to hear the songs of autumn insects in the grass. That will surely soothe our tired minds. 

Today, I want to speak with you about cultural welfare and cultural inclusiveness.

I have not had a chance to talk about this topic before, because I have been preoccupied with economic issues so far. Nonetheless, it is clear that we must have both prosperous economy and high cultural standards to become a truly advanced nation.

As a young businessman, I traveled to many countries on business. No matter how busy my schedule was, I always tried to find some time to go to the most renowned museums in the countries I visited or to theaters or concert halls.

Once when I was visiting Hungary, I went to the opera. The Hungarian economy was in shambles at that time with the collapse of the Communist bloc in East Europe. Yet surprisingly the opera house was packed with young students. After the performance, I asked an elderly woman, who was working as a guide, how it was possible for so many young people to attend an art performance.

“Our Government provides support for children from low-income families so that they can enjoy quality art performances like this” she replied. She went on to add, “If we expose our children to quality arts from an early age, they will continue to enjoy and appreciate culture and arts as grown-ups.” I was deeply impressed by her explanation, and to this day, I still remember what she had said.

As a matter of fact, I had hoped to turn Seoul into a city of culture when I served as Mayor. In an effort to create a municipal orchestra matching the reputation of Seoul as a world-class city, I invited maestro Chung Myung-whun as the music director. He willingly accepted my offer and demonstrated a strong devotion to the advancement of music in Korea.

After he took the helm, the municipal orchestra visited numerous metropolitan district offices scattered around Seoul and held concerts there. In so doing, he enabled the citizens of Seoul to easily access and enjoy classical music in a friendly atmosphere. I am still grateful to him for having made good on his promise.

His concerts were greeted with enthusiastic cheers and applauses. He made many of us happy. There had obviously been thirst for fine cultural opportunities in this country. Now that we have ushered in an era of a per capita income of US$20,000, we should try to emerge as a nation of culture.

We usually do not call a nation, which is economically affluent but lacks cultural sophistication, an advanced nation. We do not respect the rich, if they lack dignity and refinement.

To pave the way leading to happiness through culture, it is necessary for the Government to provide the general public with equal opportunities to enjoy cultural activities.

When the economy is in the doldrums, people tend to slash cultural expenses first. This tendency is all the more so among low-income families. The income gap directly translates into a gap in cultural activities.

Statistics show that the Koreans watch about one art performance a year on average. Needless to say, the situation for those who are in need is even worse. When it comes to opportunities to enjoy cultural activities, there is a great discrepancy between big cities and farming and fishing villages as well. Because of this, the focus of Government cultural policies is placed on narrowing the cultural opportunities gap across the board.

The Government will make efforts to realize a fair society. It is one of the Administration’s principles in running state affairs, and the area of cultural welfare is no exception.

Following the inauguration of my Administration, the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Korea were opened to the public for free. Cultural opportunities have been further bolstered for the residents of culturally disadvantaged communities.

Currently, we have a culture voucher system for the low-income families. Yet, we still have a long way to go. The Government will examine measures to drastically expand and enhance the program. This year’s budget earmarked for the culture voucher program was less than 10 billion won or about US$8.4 million. By significantly increasing the budget starting next year, the Government will help expand cultural opportunities for those in the low-income bracket.

If the overall size of audiences increases, it will help small cultural performing troupes as well. The Government will further reinforce the implementation of policies to that end.

Good culture policies must guarantee greatest possible number of people an access and opportunities to cultural activities from the very places they live and work. This is my unwavering principle.

The Korean Business Council for the Arts or Mecenat, is doing an excellent job in promoting culture and arts on the business front. I hope to see more and more of such activities enriching and revitalizing our cultural space for the sake of cultural inclusiveness.

Yet another task of cardinal import is to make sure that our children enjoy cultural opportunities as much as they like. To this end, the Government has already started a special program aimed at supporting art education in elementary schools in culturally disadvantaged communities by dispatching professional instructors.

Yeosu Buk Elementary School in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, had been on the verge of being closed down because of dwindling enrollment. But it was rejuvenated after it was selected as one of the “seed of the arts” schools. This kind of project will have to be expanded in the future.

Korea was a nation of culture from ancient times. 150 years ago during the Joseon Kingdom when the invading French troops were looting the books in the Oegyujanggak or Outer Royal Archives, one of their officers(Henri Zuber) was quoted as saying: “What impresses us, but hurts our pride is the fact that no matter how poor they may be, every Korean household has some books.”

After the Korean War devastated the nation, only the affluent few tended to enjoy a cultural life. But the time has come when all citizens should have equal access to cultural opportunities. When people have cultural experiences, they become personally satisfied and are happier. Whatever hardships we may be undergoing, we can derive emotional comfort and strength from listening to music and watching dramas.

We sometimes come across reports about Gross National Happiness Index. It reveals that a happiness level of a country has little, if any, direct relationship to the national economy or the income of its people. Economic conditions may be important, but happiness is generally believed to have more to do with the quality of interpersonal relations or with the little things that give us satisfaction in the course of everyday life.

When I look back on my childhood, the time when I envied my affluent peers the most was when I saw them reading all the books they wanted to or listening to all the music they liked. Only when all our children have access to cultural activities regardless of their families’ incomes will we become a truly happy nation.

My fellow citizens,

On Liberation Day just a week ago, the fully restored Gwanghwamun was unveiled. “Gwanghwa” implies “light dazzles every corner of the land, and teaching and learning spread far and wide.” Our ancestors tried to benefit the world through the medium of cultural light.

A nation that offers the benefits of arts and culture to every boy and girl, a country that enables every citizen to participate in a cultural life regardless of his/her economic status, that is the kind of a country I dream of—a culturally rich and prosperous Korea.

Autumn is just around the corner. I hope all of you find time to enjoy and relax yourselves. Reading good books and listening to your favorite music could be the start.

Thank you very much.