Good morning, fellow Koreans,

At long last on December 5, the Republic of Korea reached the US$1 trillion mark in trade. Across the globe, there are only nine countries, including the United States, Germany, China and Japan, that have pulled off this remarkable achievement. We have now become one of the largest trading nations in the world, standing side by side with advanced countries.

What makes us all the more proud is the fact that we have emerged as an open trade powerhouse that contributes to global economic progress while striking a balance in trade with US$500 billion in imports and US$500 billion in exports. Now, Korean-made semiconductors, automobiles and cutting-edge IT products can be found in almost every nook and cranny around the world.

I am truly grateful to our business leaders, workers and all the people who have worked so hard day and night to achieve today’s results. All of us deserve the credit for today’s glory and celebration.

At this overwhelming moment, what comes to my mind is the image of our mothers and sisters who had to cut and sell their hair when I was growing up in a time of severe poverty. What sowed the seeds for nation building through trade were the wigs made from their hair and the clothing that young female workers produced late into the night at their sewing machines.

Recalling the past, Seong Jeong-sun, 53, said “At that time, we thought that was the only way for us and for our country to survive.” She worked two shifts, 12 hours a day and sent all her wages home to the countryside. Thanks to that money, all of her five younger siblings were able to continue schooling and even get married.

She is still working in the textile industry. Commenting on the era of US$1 trillion in trade, she said, “It reminds me of my colleagues who worked so hard together even without realizing how difficult it was at that time.”

Our fathers who were sent to construction sites in the Middle East labored hard sweating in the searing desert. Lee Cheol-hwa, who was a construction site manager in Iran in the 1970s and retired 20 years ago, said in retrospect that he was only grateful for being able to work.

Looking back, it is truly amazing that they yearned for a brighter future for the nation while working day and night under difficult conditions. Nurses and miners who were dispatched to Germany as well as workers who sweated in deserts in the Middle East—they all must have been wishing for a prosperous future for the country while they worked.

Such a spirit is hardly found in any other nation. That spirit has been handed down to the next generation workers in various sectors, which finally helped the nation’s trade top the US$1 trillion mark.

There are also many technical experts who underpinned the nation’s rapid economic progress behind the scenes, fully devoting themselves to their own jobs on industrial sites.

For the past 38 years, Kim Jong-soo has been working with the painting department of the Hyundai Motor Company. With skills he obtained with difficulty at a Japanese auto company at a young age, Mr. Kim made contributions to the progress of the domestic automobile industry and is a living witness to that progress. 

Many scientists who buried themselves in research burning the midnight oil and public officials who worked even on weekends are also a significant part of today’s feat. Thanks to the family members’ sacrificial support and love, we all could crisscross the world as the main pillars of our nation’s industry and exports.

Together with big conglomerates, many SMEs that competed in the international arena with technical prowess are the driving force in reaching the US$1 trillion mark in trade.

CAPCO, an enterprise of middle standing with 500 employees, exports automobile wipers to 40 countries and records sales of 120 billion won or about US$105 million annually. In 2008, the company, though small, was chosen as a hidden champion due to the unrivalled competitiveness on the global stage.

The Government is planning to foster a total of 300 such small-yet-strong businesses by 2020. 

In celebrating the feat today, we cannot forget many professionals from other nations who passed on advanced technologies and know-how to Korea, which was no more than an industrial wasteland at that time.

In the beginning of the 1970s, William Duncan of the United Kingdom came to Korea to consult Korean shipbuilding companies and make technology transfers to them. He is the one who helped lay a solid foundation for shipbuilding in the country.

When POSCO was first launched, Toshihiko Ariga, an executive of Nippon Steel, came to Korea and provided technology and management skills for the Korean steel industry.

Now, Korea has new protagonists leading toward an age of US$2 trillion dollars in trade.

Lee Soo Man has introduced a systematic and scientific management system to Korea’s entertainment industry. That is one reason that the Korean Wave has been spreading onto the global stage recently beyond the Asian borders.

The bell pepper farmers in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, have succeeded in exporting their products to Japan by assuring highest quality and thorough food safety. Their combined annual sales amount to 14 billion won, and each family earns 100 million won a year.

Fellow citizens,

The heroes of the dramatic accomplishment of US$1trillion in trade are none other than the people of the Republic of Korea. Because of international trade, we were able to build the Korea of today. Trade has been the engine of our economic miracle and the source of jobs and our daily meals. It represents the force that enabled us to rise again out of each economic crisis.

Now is the time for us to start with new determination and strive to usher in the era of US$2 trillion in trade. Our new protagonists are the G20 generation. The young members of the G20 generation are already venturing onto the world stage without any reservation.

Kim Yu-na surprised the world. The K-pop singers are exciting global audiences. Our technologists are demonstrating their superior talent at the WorldSkills Competition. Talented scientists are gearing up to realize the dreams of humanity. I am fully confident in the future of Korea that will be carved out by our young people.

I am truly proud of being Korean. Once again I am grateful for your dedicated endeavors.

Thank you very much.