Honorable Chairman Chang Dae-whan of Maeil Business Newspaper, former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, former Finnish Prime Minister Esko Aho, former UN Under Secretary-General Maurice Strong, and distinguished guests from home and abroad,

I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the opening of the 9th World Knowledge Forum today. It seems like only yesterday that the forum was launched. I am filled with special emotion as the forum is already marking its 9th anniversary. When I served as Seoul Mayor, I attended this annual event every year and met a host of global leaders. Yesterday, I had a chance to meet three former prime ministers who made great achievements while they were in office. At the gathering, we had useful discussions indeed. Many participants in the forum have presented diagnoses of the situation and suggestions of alternatives based on their great insight, which have been of enormous help to me.

The World Knowledge Forum, the biggest knowledge festival in Asia, is set to serve as one of the most prominent international forums. The forum has made great contributions to catapulting the Republic of Korea into a knowledge country in line with a knowledge-based economy and to promoting its state brand. Once again, I am grateful to Chairman Chang Dae-whan and other members of the staff of Maeil Business Newspaper for their hard work in organizing this meaningful event.

Distinguished global leaders and renowned scholars,

As you may well understand, the recent financial crisis that started in the United States has hit the world economy hard. Astonished at the news, people around the world are trembling with fear. “Uncertainty” seems to be the most suitable word to describe the current situation.

When reviewing the situation, the phrase “a paradox of the times” crossed my mind. Rapid globalization and the information and communications revolution have brought about astoundingly fast changes, but we have never been provided sufficient information about the potential risks.

Worse yet, the system for predicting those risks and enabling us to cope with them is still tenuous. Countries are intertwined to the extent that they are now referred to as a global village, but there is a downside; a new situation has emerged where a small shock in one corner on the other side of the world can rattle everyone.

In this process, the institutional lag has come into full view. An explosion of uncontrollable acts has frequently led to unintended vicious results. A proper system, however, was not put in place in time to prepare us for such risks and to contain them.

When uncertainty prevails, the sharing of knowledge is especially significant. It is my belief that the global leaders and members of the intellectual community gathered here are tasked with such an historic mission.

Now is the time for us to pool our wisdom to help address the institutional lag. We now need to seek out collective solutions to common challenges gripping the whole world. If necessary, we have to create a better order.

At a time when globalization is accelerating and the economy is rapidly transcending national borders, there should be new international organizations to regulate developments in advance and take countermeasures.

It is truly opportune that numerous distinguished scholars from across the world are attending this forum. Among them, the 2007 Nobel Prize laureate in Economics, Eric Maskin, Yale University President Richard Levin and President of the University of Tokyo Hiroshi Komiyama will deliver remarks together with many other dignitaries. I hope that you all will make great contributions to wisely tiding over numerous global challenges, including the financial crisis and climate change, by giving us the full benefit of your knowledge and experiences.

Ladies and gentlemen from home and abroad,

Following the launch of the new Administration, I put forward Low Carbon, Green Growth as the core of the Republic’s new vision. In the 21st century, the world is expected to witness a switchover from the carbon era to a hydrogen era. Green growth refers to a drive aimed at ensuring sustainable growth through the development of green technology such as new and renewable energies while curtailing the use of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases.

In order to achieve sustainable growth by addressing global problems concerning climate change and energy, there should be an integration of knowledge from various sectors. The era when an expert in one field or a single country alone could address numerous problems facing the international community has now gone. 

If new visions and solutions for humankind were hammered out through the integration of knowledge, the current adversities would turn into opportunities. In this regard, it is timely indeed that this year’s Knowledge Forum chose Collabonomics, a word combining collaboration and economics, as its theme.

I have no doubt that the global leaders and scholars here today will not only provide wisdom in enhancing collaboration to help overcome the era of uncertainty but also put forward practical leadership to promote mutual cooperation.

Distinguished guests from abroad,

October is regarded as the most beautiful month in Korea. I hope you will be able to fully appreciate what this country has to offer and return home with fond memories. Once again, I would like to congratulate you on the opening of the World Knowledge Forum 2008 and extend my heartfelt welcome to all of you.

Thank you very much.