Good morning, fellow Koreans,

I am now on the plane going back home after wrapping up a weeklong trip to Germany, Denmark and France.

The tour this time saw a couple of fruitful results: economic cooperation with Europe is expected to be further strengthened following the effectuation of the Korea-EU FTA on July 1, and a new international partnership was established for green growth efforts. Besides these accomplishments, I engaged in wide-ranging discussions on global issues, including the agenda of the G20 summit to be held in Cannes in November this year, economic security in Northeast Asia and the democratization movements in the Middle East.

During my stay in Germany, the first destination of my trip, I met with Chancellor Angela Merkel and had an intensive discussion with her on ways to expand trade through the Korea-EU FTA. Korea’s trade with Germany amounted to US$25 billion last year, and it is predicted to double to more than US$50 billion in five years thanks to the Korea-EU FTA beginning in July.

In addition, Korea and Germany agreed to step up cooperation in other sectors that are needed to improve the quality of life, including culture, education and people-to-people exchanges. As Germany is known to have the highest energy efficiency in the world and top-notch new and renewable energy technologies, enhanced technology exchanges will make a great contribution to upgrading the level of Korea’s technology.

In connection with the G20 summit, Germany gave high marks to the development agenda proposed by Korea last year, praising it for helping to take economic cooperation with emerging and developing countries to a new height. Our two countries reached an agreement to work closely together to further advance that agenda.

With regard to inter-Korean issues, Germany criticized North Korea’s attitude and pledged that it would stand by us as a partner on the path toward overcoming the division of the nation. When the North’s artillery shelling of Yeonpyeong Island erupted last year, Chancellor Merkel telephoned me promptly and reaffirmed that Germany would remain in full support of our North Korea policy. Going beyond just rhetoric, she even took the immediate action of recalling the German Ambassador to Pyongyang in protest against North Korea’s aggression.

I also had a chance to meet the chief architects of the unification of Germany and listen to their experiences and ideas. Lothar de Maizière, the Prime Minister of East Germany just before reunification, and other leaders of West Germany, who signed reunification documents and took the initiative in national defense and economic integration, explained to me the true behind-the-scene stories that can be found nowhere else.

They gave me truly useful, graphic information and invaluable wisdom, which I regard as one of the most remarkable achievements of my visit. I am planning on inviting them to Korea sometime in the latter half of the year and will arrange an opportunity for Korean experts to discuss with them the prospect of reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

Following the visit to Berlin, I moved to Frankfurt to meet with German business leaders, which served as a good opportunity to sound out their opinions concerning the expansion of investments in and trade with Korea. The gathering also helped reaffirm the high expectations of leading businesses there with regard to the Korea-EU FTA.

After Frankfurt, I visited Denmark, which was the first state visit by a Korean president since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1959. On this meaningful occasion, the two nations forged an unprecedented Green Growth Alliance by announcing the Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Green Growth Alliance between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark.

In the past, many countries around the globe established a number of security or economic alliances, but not a green growth alliance. This alliance is the first of its kind. The two Governments, private businesses, research institutes and universities from both countries will establish strategic partnerships in a total of nine areas to implement concrete collaborative projects.

Cooperation with Denmark, which boasts the best green technology in the world, will serve as a great opportunity to open a new chapter in Korea’s economic progress. The Danish economy substantiates the fact that green growth industries, as future growth engines, are conducive to creating new job opportunities. Between 2000 and 2008, the export of Denmark’s environment-friendly technologies and goods increased by two and a half times, thereby accounting for 11 percent of its total exports.

The two nations also agreed to join forces to help developing countries cope with climate change. To this end, the Danish Government is to contribute US$5 million per year for the next three years to support the activities of the Global Green Growth Institute, which was established in Korea in June last year and which opened a branch office in Copenhagen this time.

Green growth, which pursues harmony between the environment and growth, constitutes a practical alternative to surmounting the problems spawned by the fossil fuel-based industrial civilization and bringing about a green civilization to create a brighter future for humanity. Though Denmark exports oil and gas, the nation put forward a bold vision to realize the goal of becoming a fossil fuel-free society by 2050.

While the nation’s GDP increased two times, its per capita energy consumption did not increase much. This is a remarkable outcome of efforts to strike a balance between environmental preservation and economic progress, which can be a model for many countries in the years to come. This is one area in which Korea has much to learn from Denmark. 

Along with the ratification of the Korea-EU FTA, the Green Growth Alliance is also based on shared values. This is an example of international cooperation aimed at sharing a vision with like-minded nations and forging a better future for humanity. All this is part of the new dimension of the global diplomacy that Korea will have to pursue.

From Denmark, I went to France where President Nicolas Sarkozy and I delved into important issues for achieving the sustained growth of the world economy. France promised that through the forthcoming G20 Cannes Summit, it will proactively work toward  implementing the agreements that were made at the Seoul G20 Summit, including the Development Agenda.

President Sarkozy and I also concurred on the need for international coordination in the area of food supply and energy security. It is very important to prevent irregular fluctuation of food and energy prices and to make policymaking on prices transparent. This is crucial for the global economy as well as the Korean economy in the common quest for  sustained growth. The two of us consulted on how to push this issue as a major item on the agenda of this year’s Cannes G20 Summit and concluded a Joint Communiqué on the G20.

Bilateral trade between Korea and France amounted to US$7.3 billion in 2010, and we promised to do all we can to double that figure within two to three years as the Korea-EU FTA goes into effect.

Fellow Koreans,

As the international standing of Korea is being enhanced after the G20 Seoul Summit last year, the horizon of our cooperation is widening as well. The international community has come to take Korea’s position on many global issues seriously. The country has achieved a new milestone in international relations.

Now is the time for Korea to re-chart its diplomatic course according to our vision for a new world, a new future and new values. My tour this time was one example of these endeavors. We need to lay a firm international foundation for a unified Korea, for an advanced green growth country as well as for sustained growth of the economy into the future.

The future belongs to those who are prepared and to the country that is prepared. We have already made the initial steps, and the world is giving us support and recognition for that. Through the tour this time, I was able to confirm it personally.

Fellow citizens,

I am heading back home with the dream of a unified Korea that I dreamt in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

Thank you very much.