Good morning, fellow citizens,

I just returned from a trip to the United States and South America last week. I felt many things while in the South American nations. My heart filled with emotion when I witnessed the vast land, abundant resources and the people’s positive response to the Korean Wave. I also found many possibilities there. I thought to myself, “Where else but this place can we actively advance into?”

I met with the presidents of Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Chile. They all seemed to have an economic mindset, thus it was easier for me to talk with them. They invariably called on me to help Korean businesses actively venture into their countries. The Colombian President even went to the trouble of traveling to Peru just to meet me. He requested that I visit Columbia to discuss concrete ways for cooperation.

I made a resolute determination to visit those South American countries that I missed this time in order to help Korean companies break into the huge untapped markets in those countries.

While meeting with many people, I thought about the young people of Korea. An idea crossed my mind that young Koreans should not hesitate to go to these countries to work, accumulate experience and broaden their knowledge.

My mind feels heavy indeed when I think about our young people. Youth unemployment is inflicting pain not only on them, but also on their families and everyone in the country. It constitutes a great concern for the nation. I feel so much regret whenever I see our capable young people look so down with stooped shoulders because they cannot find jobs.

As a matter of fact, Korea is not the only country that suffers from high youth unemployment. Korea’s youth unemployment rate now hovers around 7 percent, but that of most advanced countries is way over 10 percent.

In this dire situation, the Government will be committed to exerting all-out efforts to help young people find jobs in or outside the country. Here I have some advice I would like to give our young people. I believe that now is the time for them to renew their determination to shape up and courageously take a stab at whatever opportunities they can find. Shrinking back in frustration, complaining of the situation and just waiting for job openings at comfortable and decent companies is never a solution.

There has been news that some young people, though a very small number, choose to work as irregular workers rather than seeking regular employment at companies in provincial areas. I don’t think such a decision is desirable for their future.

Where can we find the strength of the young? Isn’t it an unwavering challenging spirit that encourages them to stand upright even after a series of failures? I strongly believe that a brighter future will not come to those who shun challenges but to those who squarely face them irrespective of defeats.

Experience constitutes the best teacher in life. The experiences gained in a well air-conditioned office are not everything. The experiences one obtains by the sweat of one’s brow could be more valuable.

I tell this from my own experience. The company I worked for before was the biggest company in Korea. When I first joined it, however, it was a small company employing a total of about 90 workers.

In the beginning, the company sent me to a construction site in the jungle. Working there was a truly difficult experience. I endured countless hardships beyond description. Still, it all taught me invaluable lessons that cannot be purchased with money. The lessons learnt through experiences in my early days have become a lasting help for me whenever facing obstacles.

Now, we are faced with a sort of once-in-a-lifetime global crisis. What I hope to see from our young people at this juncture is that they arm themselves with a challenging spirit. That will help them become determined to gather experiences whether at home or abroad however many years it might take.

There are numerous young people who do not mind engaging in manual labor by lowering their expectations and tearing down the wall of prejudices. I am convinced that the hope for the future can be found in those who take on challenges with strong determination.

My fellow citizens,

The Government is also making efforts to create more opportunities for young people to work, learn and take on new challenges.

Among other things, it would be very helpful to visit the job centers operated by the Government for consultations. I recommend that young people map out their own plans for getting a job and receive tailor-made employment services at the centers. 

Over the years to come, the Government will provide all possible assistance and develop diverse programs for domestic and overseas employment in a bid to reduce youth unemployment.

Let me introduce some of the programs. First of all, the Government will begin to operate a Youth Internship program next year as a means of helping them prepare for their careers while working as an intern at small and medium-sized companies as well as government and public organizations. Another program is a plan to nurture 100,000 youth leaders in future industries. The plan aimed at fostering core human resources for promising industries will be implemented earlier than originally planned, and the special budget for the next year alone amounts to 750 billion won.

The Government has a credit recovery plan which is aimed at helping students and graduates who defaulted on their college loans. Another plan is dubbed as “New Start Project” and its purpose is to help some 10,000 young people from low-income families to adjust to the job market and society.

In this global age, the Government strongly encourages young men and women to turn their attention to overseas opportunities. For example, if a person can speak a foreign language, he/she is very likely to be hired by Korean businesses operating all over the world. The interested companies may be in Africa, the Middle East, South America or anywhere else. In this respect, the Government will expand opportunities for young people to advance abroad. One of the programs is a plan to foster 100,000 global youth leaders. For the next five years beginning in 2009, the Government envisions sending 100,000 people abroad as volunteers, interns or regular workers.

In accordance with the agreement made at the last Korea-U.S. summit, many Korean young people will be able to go to America and train for 18 months. This will certainly help them expand their horizons.

Through the Working Holiday program, Korea is now exchanging some 30,000 young people with Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and France. The Government expects that the number of countries working with Korea will increase to 13, and the number of beneficiaries to 60,000 by the year 2012.

In the recent summit talks with the Chilean leader, the two countries agreed to increase exchange students between them. Whenever I have a summit in the future, I will make a point of arranging more opportunities for our young people to travel abroad.

Fellow Koreans, young citizens, in particular,

I have never forgotten for a minute that jobs for young people should be one of the most important priorities of the Government. As I will continue to try my best, I expect that young men and women will join forces with me in this matter.

It is my firm belief that self-confidence and determination, as well as a can-do attitude, is more important than anything else. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Thank you very much.