Good morning, fellow Koreans,

It seems that we are already on the threshold of winter with chilly winds and fallen leaves. As the temperature has suddenly dropped, many people, especially those who are selling things in the markets and working outdoors, must be having a tough time. 

Now is the time for families to make kimchi for the winter season. I still remember that when I was young, people prepared for winter by making fermented soybean cakes called meju at home and hanging radish greens to dry under the eaves this time of the year. Even these days, many households must be busy making kimchi and bracing for winter.

Starting early this month, the Government has been operating a task force to stabilize the supply and demand of vegetables necessary for making kimchi. Even though the price of condiments has soared, that of napa cabbage has dropped quite a lot, which makes it possible to reduce the overall cost of making kimchi compared with last year. It is a fortunate, indeed. 

The Government will adjust the timing for shipping napa cabbage to minimize the damage to vegetable farms. It will also continue to expand the import as well as the supply of domestically grown ingredients for condiments under contracts with the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation.

Fellow citizens,

Looking back at this past year, the lives of middle class people have been hard in the midst of the global economic crisis, and the lives of low-income families have gotten even harder.

Smaller business owners must have had a difficult time because of sluggish business. My heart truly aches when I think about our job-seeking young people, who have yet to find jobs as another year goes by.

Still worse, it is highly likely that the cold wave will last long and there will be unusually heavy snowfall this winter. The cold weather makes it all the more difficult for senior citizens living alone and adolescent heads of households to eke out a living.

In preparation for the upcoming winter season, the Government is taking measures to make sure that vulnerable people in society keep as warm as possible during the cold weather.

Since 2008, the Government has been providing each impoverished household with coal briquettes in the form of coupons worth 170,000 won. Starting this year, it will expand the provision of heating oil for adolescent heads of households and families headed by grandparents. 

The discount of a fixed amount of money from the electricity bills of low-income families, which was initiated last August, will be continued.

Yet another huge concern facing the Government is how to get through this winter without experiencing a shortage of electricity.

Up until now, the Government has done its best to increase the electricity supply through various efforts, including the construction of power plants. Notwithstanding, it is still an uphill battle to meet the skyrocketing electricity demand.

Compared to other nations, our nation''s increase in the rate of electricity consumption remains very high, going well beyond the economic growth rate.  

Notably, the electricity demand in winter over the past several years was higher than that in the middle of summer. Given this, it is likely that we might face an emergency because of the shortage of electricity this winter.

A power failure for just several hours could wreak damage of unimaginable proportions, thus we must not allow such a situation to occur under any circumstances.

As such, electricity-related matters are not just confined to saving energy. They need to be dealt with in the context of crisis management by all citizens in an urgent and serious manner.

Fellow Koreans,

The Government is taking various measures to cope with a possible power shortage, but the cooperation of all citizens is essential as well.

Last summer I visited Japan while that country was suffering a large- scale power shortage in the wake of its disaster involving nuclear power stations. There I witnessed how the Government, businesses and citizens were consulting each other and saving energy meticulously.

I was informed that Japan was meeting electricity needs by having businesses work on alternate days, while developing energy-saving home appliances and using fans instead of air conditioners. As a result, the country was able to save more electricity than it had planned originally.

Once we decide to save energy, I think we can do even better than the Japanese people. During the 1997 foreign exchange crisis, the Korean people voluntarily collected gold to tide it over, setting a precedent unheard of globally.

There are many ways to save power in our daily lives.

I, for one, have recently lowered the thermostat in the place I work. Naturally, I had to wear warmer underwear which was uncomfortable initially. But after a while, I got used to it, and now I am very warm and comfortable wearing it.

If we lower the thermostat just one degree, we can effectively save 7 percent of our heating energy use.

We can save energy beyond our expectation if we care to lower the temperature of the houses and offices a little, turn out unnecessary lights during the night and use high-efficiency electric appliances.

The Government will do all it can to minimize the inconveniences of citizens, but I urge businesses, civic organizations and the general public to participate in this campaign voluntarily and proactively.

My fellow Koreans,

We will be ringing out the year in just one month. I trust that every one of you will continue to thrive for the rest of the year.

Thank you very much.