Good morning, fellow Koreans,

On Liberation Day last year, I put forward “fair society” as a new national vision. I did so because Korea will be able to become an advanced nation in a true sense only when our society not only makes quantitative growth but also takes a qualitative step forward.

The creation of a fair society is an ethical, practical task the Republic of Korea needs to take for its advancement. A fair society is a corruption-free society where the laws and institutions work properly. It is a vibrant society based on a sound market economy where equal opportunity is guaranteed. It is a society that embraces the socially vulnerable with caring concern and supports those who want to get back on their own feet.

The achievements of the Republic of Korea to date have been remarkable. Guy Sorman, a world-renowned French scholar, highly valued the history of Korea’s industrialization and democratization and described it as a part of the cultural heritage of mankind.

Korea’s economy ranks near the world’s top 10, and its information technology is one of the best in the world. The Economist assessed Korea as one of the 26 fully-democratized countries in the world and the most advanced democracy in Asia. As such, we are now on the threshold of becoming an advanced country. But what remains a stumbling block is the lack of fairness in many sectors of society. There have also been some shortcomings in the process of achieving rapid success.

Now is the time for us to redouble our efforts to create a fair society. On February 17, I presided over the first meeting for the Fair Society Campaign in a bid to set the broad direction and tasks for an action plan.

The weekly sessions of the Meeting for National Economic Measures, which succeeded the Meeting for Emergency Economic Measures, have been convened 80 times since 2009. But from now on, this meeting will be held only twice a month because we have now gotten past the height of the economic crisis. Instead, the Meeting for a Fair Society will be newly convened once a month.

In the first meeting last week, the basic duties of citizens, such as military service, tax payment, education and labor were brought up for discussion as part of the tasks that need to be implemented to create a fair society. We have often seen illegal and expedient practices in the form of dodging military service, incorrect reporting of income, habitual default on tax payment, delinquent payment of wages and unfair treatment of subcontract companies. Because of this, there exists a very broad public consensus on the necessity of creating a fair society, especially concerning the basic duties of citizens.

The Administration will first implement policies one by one that can be carried out most readily and that are directly related to the everyday lives of the people. In terms of establishing a fair society, the legislative and judiciary authorities also have much room for self-improvement. These organizations need to first examine what has to be changed and take necessary action.

Building a fair society will be successful only when there is active participation by all sectors of society since it requires a change in our awareness, customs and culture. Among other things, it is crucial for leaders in each sector to take the initiative and set a good example. When leaders lead by example, we will be able to expedite the establishment of a fair society.

In the process, forming a public consensus is also very critical. In this connection, it is truly fortunate that the public has recently been engaged in heated discussions about a fair society with academia playing the central role.

As evidenced by the success of the voluntary, alternate-no-driving day during the G20 Seoul Summit, civic consciousness is on the rise. The Government’s drive to build a fair society will be able to bear fruit when coupled with endeavors by the leaders in our society to take the lead and set an example as well as the voluntary efforts of the general public. This is my firm belief.

My fellow Koreans,

Concern about a fair society is not limited to Korea only. People may think that advanced countries have already realized a fair society and developing countries have not. But advanced countries are having new problems as globalization and information technology have been rapidly spreading since the start of the 21st century, widening the disparity in wealth and opportunity.

Developed countries are generally equipped with good fundamentals regarding law and order, but new social changes bring about new issues. In this sense, Korea can be said to have the problems of both developed and developing countries.

The Republic of Korea does not have a firmly established law-and-order system; unreasonable practices from the past still exist. As economic growth, globalization and the move towards information-based society pick up speed, disparity in opportunity and wealth are widening.

However, if we resolve to overcome these complicated challenges, we would be able to present a new model of a fair society to the international community. Building a fair society is an essential process in our march toward a leading advanced country. As a nation, we should make certain that the movement continues and actually takes firm hold regardless of the time and effort required. As President, I will actively participate in the movement and follow through consistently.

Korea’s traditional almanac shows Usu (first rain of the year) is over and Gyeongchip (end of hibernation) is around the corner. It is the time to revitalize our minds and bodies that have been depressed by the extended winter cold. I hope you will start the week with high hopes.

Thank you very much.