Fellow Koreans, I congratulate all of you on the 92nd March First Independence Movement Day.

I bow my head in reverence to the souls of our patriotic forefathers who shed blood weathering the thorny paths of suffering for the country’s independence. I also join all Koreans in expressing deepest respect and gratitude to our decorated patriots who fought for the nation’s independence and to their families, who have witnessed the country’s disgrace and glory.

Ninety-two years ago today, the whole Korean Peninsula was ablaze with the torches of freedom. They were trying to raise the universal conscience of humanity and calling for national self-determination in defiance of the tyrannical oppression of aggressive imperialism.

The 33 national representatives declared that “Korea is an independent state and that Koreans are self-governing people.”

Ranging from Baekdu to Halla mountain, from Seoul to a remote village in Pyeongan province, the chants for Korea’s independence reverberated throughout the country.

The brutal guns and swords of the Japanese imperialists and ferocious hooves of their horses were confronted without fear. Every Korean of both genders and all ages, including students, farmers, Cheondogyo believers, Christians, Buddhists and Confucianists, were united as one and stood shoulder to shoulder under the banner of the Korean nation.

In the melting pot of passionate love of the country, we were nothing other than the people of Korea. Just as all people should be born free, it was declared that the people of Korea were free. Founding the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea based on the ideal of a democratic republic, we hoisted high the flag of a modern nation.

At the end of the 19th century, we were not able to read the changes of the times and lagged behind the trend in global history, resulting in the loss of our national sovereignty. But our people rose again with indomitable determination and opened a new era of freedom and democracy.

The March First Independence Movement was the first step toward founding the Republic of Korea and, at the same time, became an ever-flowing spring for the spirit of self-reliant independence. We eventually achieved the independence of our country and established a liberal democracy in this land. We have pulled off today’s prosperity with sweat and tears rising above poverty and post-war ruins with no fear of any hardship.

The international community recognizes Korea as one of the 26 full democracies in the world and the most advanced democracy in Asia. But our journey will continue; we will take on new challenges because our ideal is higher and our vision is greater.

A people who are all better off, a warm and caring society, a strong nation, a leading and advanced country—this is the very vision we hold. Going beyond industrialization and democratization, we need to advance all sectors, including politics, the economy, society and culture.

Liberal democracy should become more mature. Staying above ideological disputes, it should be able to help low-income families become well off and give hope to our young people.

A society united as one for the sake of the country’s future while respecting diversity and a country where the people go about their everyday lives comfortably—this is what my Administration’s working-class friendly, centrist pragmatism intends to create.

In the society we are yearning to build, equal opportunity has to be given to everyone; those who work hard should be fairly rewarded; and those who have once fallen have to be given another opportunity to get back on their own feet. I will do my utmost to build a fair society, which constitutes the ethical and practical infrastructure of a leading, advanced country.

My fellow young Koreans,

The spirit of the March First Independence Movement was internationalism. The Declaration of Korean Independence revealed a grand vision of reform in the world, stretching beyond our national borders, on the basis of the great cause of the equality of all nations.

The legitimate right of national survival ensuring that all peoples are allowed to live peaceful and happy lives became a universal ideal for all peoples who were oppressed.

In the wake of the March First Independence Movement, struggles to achieve national self-determination were ignited in many parts of the world, including Egypt, Turkey, the Philippines and India. As such, the March First Independence Movement opened up a new chapter in world history.

The Republic has now become the nation that our forefathers dreamt about, contributing to the promotion of world peace and common prosperity.

Through the G20 Seoul Summit last year, the Republic has yet again emerged as a nation leading the world in addressing many global issues in the 21st century, including the development agenda.

In an era of Global Korea, the key players of the Republic are none other than the young people of the G20 generation. The dream of the past generation was to be the best in Korea and, further, in Asia. However, young Koreans of this generation armed with great passion are dauntlessly taking on challenges in all sectors, including sports, culture, arts, science and technology, to become the global best.

At the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, the FIFA World Cup South Africa and U-17 Women''s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago in 2010, many young Koreans displayed in full the enthusiasm and passion of the G20 generation.

Hallyu, the Korean Wave, is now spreading to many nations across the globe. In addition, it is no longer unusual for the theses of young Korean scientists to be published by world renowned academic journals. Moreover, an increasing number of young Koreans is devoting their passion to volunteer work in all parts of the world in need of our help, including Africa, South America and Asia.

On another front, when the nation’s security hung by a thread because of the North’s provocations, one young brave marine fought to the end not even noticing that the camouflage on his helmet had caught fire. In addition, the number of young Koreans who volunteered for military assignments that are most demanding and dangerous has skyrocketed.

Young people of the G20 generation are proud, great Koreans and, at the same time, mature global citizens. You are the hope of the Republic of Korea, who will blaze a new trail to build a leading, advanced nation. In the coming era, I am convinced that you will play a leading role in the world.

My fellow Koreans and citizens of East Asian countries,

At a time when East Asia is emerging as a pivot of the international order, which is being reshaped, peace in the region is critical to the future of humankind. Nations in the region have been neighbors for thousands of years. To our misfortune, however, we have suffered from a series of conflicts since the 19th century.

The March First Independence Movement was a manifestation of the hope that lasting peace in the East would be assured and that the world would be brimming with justice, humanity and dignity.

Even when the nation was deprived of its sovereignty and oppressed by guns and swords, the March First Independence Movement well illustrated the nation’s assertive spirit to build up our own strength, not to destroy others but to chart a new course for ourselves.

Now is high time for Japan to behave and act in a genuine manner in line with the remarks that Prime Minister Naoto Kan made in a special statement last year. In this way, the two countries will be able to move forward together into the future instead of dwelling on the past.

In this 21st century when nations are pursuing globalization leaving behind the legacy of the Cold War, the remnants of the 20th century should be cleared away. We urge North Korea to join the new wave of peace and common prosperity in Northeast Asia as well. There is no reason for South Korea not to help our compatriots in the North when it is helping many other countries. The North should step forward for serious dialogue and cooperation and refrain from developing nuclear weapons and missiles. It has to take responsible measures regarding their armed provocations and get on the path of genuine reconciliation and cooperation.

In this age when the world is changing rapidly, the Korean nation cannot afford to lag behind the currents of the times, repeating the dark history of yesteryear. Now is the opportune time to open a new kind of future on the Korean Peninsula. The Republic is ready to engage in dialogue with the North anytime with an open mind. Peaceful unification is the way to complete the work of independence and national survival that our ancestors aspired for so fervently 92 years ago today.

One Korean nation and a unified territory will become a central pillar supporting peace in the world as well as in Northeast Asia. One Korea promises to be a viable hub of prosperity linking continents and oceans, the East and the West as well as the North and South on a global scale.

We will continue to expand the international consensus on the need to realize reunification, while at the same time actively bolstering our capacity to deal with eventual reunification.

My fellow citizens,

The Republic is on the threshold of emerging as a leading, advanced nation. Because of the international instability stemming from the recent turmoil in the Middle East, the prospective for the world economy is hard to predict. As oil prices rise abruptly and consumer prices are being threatened, the difficulties of low-income families are mounting.

But we have the experience and potential for turning crises into opportunities. When an economic crisis hit the country in 2009, my Administration proclaimed that the Government would be run in an emergency economic rescue mode and held weekly sessions of the Meeting for Emergency Economic Measures. Consequently, the business community, worker, and the Korean people were able to overcome the crisis the fastest and the most successfully in the world.

It is time now again for us to go back to the same frame of mind and tackle the new challenge. I will take the lead as I reflect on the past three years in office and resolve to work with fresh determination. I will do all I can to help the nation join the ranks of leading, advanced nations, continuing to serve the people with a humble attitude.

Let us all join hands and march vigorously toward that goal. Together, we will open a promising new era for the Republic.

Thank you very much.