Good morning, fellow citizens,

These days, I worry so much about the news that it may be unusually cold this winter.

Recently, I read a posting on the Cheong Wa Dae website by a middle school student. Her father works so hard from dawn till late at night, but he doesn’t get paid his wages on time. Her mother also works at a beauty parlor until ten in the evening, but she only sighs because business is really slow. The young girl said that more than ten times a day she thinks that she would like to quit school and make money.

I read another posting from a man in his 40s with two children. He has a son in college and a daughter in middle school. He said his life is so hard that he is not sure he will be able to hold on much longer. He even said that he was considering making an extreme choice.

My mind felt so heavy after reading these graphic stories. I felt so much regret over the dire situation of those parents who spend sleepless nights fretting over their future.

As President, I have made a resolute determination once again that I would do whatever I can to the best of my ability to relieve the pains of these people.

My fellow citizens,

As a matter of fact, my mother’s memorial day happens to be today. Just as it is for everyone else, my mother rests deep in my mind like the root of my spirit even though many years have elapsed since she passed away.

When I was young, I sold fruit in front of a theater right by an intersection of two broad streets. One late night, a passenger car plowed into my handcart laden with fruit. The handcart was broken and the fruit was scattered on the street. Far from making an apology, the owner of the car roared at me asking why I was selling fruit on the street. Overwhelmed by the driver’s unexpected behavior, I blurted out that I was sorry, but the more I thought about the incident, the sadder I felt about my situation.

Swept by frustration and sorrow as well as fury against arrogant rich people, I decided to quit everything and leave home. I was preoccupied only with one idea that I should make money fast and become rich. 

However, when I actually made up my mind to leave home, I began to feel deep regret that I had not once served my mother enough fruit though I was selling it. Thus, I came back home after picking up some fruit on sale, as I wanted her to eat to the full.

The day I had decided to leave home dawned. The moment I was about to leave, I could hear my mother pray. She prayed, “Please, give him the courage to continue with hope and not to fall victim to despair.”

She seemed to have an inkling of everything I had planned. My mother’s prayer at dawn stopped me.

Though we were poor and the going was tough, I felt like I could weather through any adversity, as long as I was with my mother who truly loved me and took care of me.

A couple days ago, I visited Garak-Dong Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market in Seoul. Upon seeing an old woman named Pak Bu-ja who was selling things from a street stall, I clasped her hand in spite of myself. Grasping my hands, she shed tears, which reminded me of my mother who had also sold things from a street stall.

What really touched me was the fact that she had prayed for our nation and me every dawn, rather than bearing a grudge against me in these difficult times. On the contrary, the sincerity in her eyes and her warm hands, though rough and sore, encouraged me. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to Mrs. Pak and other sellers I met that day. I wish all of you could brace yourselves against hardship once again.

My fellow citizens,

What we need at this moment is such concern and encouragement.

In particular, now it is especially important for family members to cheer each other up. The family is the last sanctuary on which we can depend in hard times, isn’t it? If we encourage our fathers and husbands who have lost their jobs with love, they will rise up again without fail.  

It is my hope that the hardships we are experiencing now will serve as a precious opportunity to think about the importance of family values.

I also hope that as we ring out the old year and ring in a new year, we will be able to express our caring concern and help our underprivileged neighbors.

Fellow citizens,

I hear that the relief funds being raised by the Share the Hope campaign since December 1 are recording more than double the amount collected during the same period last year.

I am truly grateful for that. Many experts predicted that charity campaigns would suffer substantially this year due to the unprecedented economic downturn. But our citizens are proving even more enthusiastic in giving, and I, as your President, am at a loss for words to express my thanks.

Especially, when I was told that the bulk of the donations came from everyday citizens taking the brunt of the economic difficulties, I was utterly overwhelmed. I am infinitely proud of being the President of such caring people.

Through my life-long experience, I, for one, have become convinced that a giving person benefits much more than a receiving person. During the four years as Seoul Mayor and since my inauguration as President, I have given all my salary to neighbors in distress knowing their situation. For the same reason, I have promised that I would donate my assets, too, to society. I am still pondering where to give them and how to use them most effectively. I expect that the plans will be worked out in the not-too-distant future.

Often, those citizens who received my financial help write me thank you letters. Whenever I read how they were encouraged to do some rewarding things with my help, I feel so good thinking that I did something right.

I gave only a little material help to them, but what I get from their letters and their heartfelt thanks carries enormous value. The spiritual energy and strength I get from them is priceless, indeed.

Fellow Koreans, and particularly I would like to talk to those citizens who are struggling every day in a dire situation,

Things may be difficult—extremely difficult—but don’t be discouraged or give up. Despite what I say, however, there may be some citizens who really cannot eat three meals a day. For those people, the government will be fully responsible.

Do not lose faith that tomorrow will be better than today.

With courage, together let us overcome the trials at hand.

Thank you very much.