Fellow Koreans,
I stand here today with a solemn and grateful mind.
The Korean people gave me a landslide victory in the presidential election last December, and in the general election this time, they gave the ruling party a majority of seats in the National Assembly. They have paved the way for the new Administration to honor the pledges made to the people. I extend my heartfelt gratitude once again.
Through the election this time, it was reconfirmed that the Korean people are staying ahead of their politicians. I am well aware of what the voters intended to say in the general election this time. The people gave a stern mandate that the politicians should concentrate on ways to promote national unity and the politics of compromise departing from political calculations serving only their own interests. They should make all-out efforts to revive the economy and take better care of the daily lives of ordinary citizens. I will take this message to heart with a humble attitude.
With the two recent elections, we have opened a new chapter in the history of Korean politics. I did not receive even a dime from the business community during the last presidential election. It may be the first case in the presidential election history in Korea. I understand that the political parties have spent less money than any time before in the lead-up to the general election. From now on, elections influenced by money will be eliminated from the country for good. Taking it a step further, irresponsible political mudslinging and negative offensives must be eradicated without fail. Among other things, clean and fair elections should take root institutionally so that society will be free of irregularities and corruption and will be able to move forward toward advancement. To this end, the new Administration will do what it can to the best of its ability.
Fellow citizens,
The election is now over. The Government will concentrate on making Korea an advanced nation upholding the will of the people who gave the ruling party a majority in the National Assembly. The Administration will spur the effort to revitalize the economy benefiting ordinary people and to help businesses make more investment freely to create additional decent jobs.
To this end, I ask the National Assembly to hold an extraordinary session in May. The bills that the ruling and opposition parties have already agreed to pass should be brought to a conclusion prior to the close of the 17th National Assembly without waiting for the opening of the 18th National Assembly. I urge the lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties to put their heads together and hammer outmeasures to stabilize the livelihood of ordinary citizens and to revitalize the economy before considering partisan interests.
We cannot afford to procrastinate any longer. Now, we are faced with a stack of work in order to revive the economy and enhance the everyday lives of the people. For its part, the National Assembly should approve the Korea-U.S. FTA, thus paving the way for the U.S. Congress to ratify the treaty without delay. The Government will also work out thorough follow-up measure for the farmers.
Bills regarding corporate deregulation, such as amendments to the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, should be passed promptly. This would be conducive to increased investments by businesses. We also cannot afford to put off the enactment of the teacher evaluation system to sharpen the competitive edge of the nation''s education.
We have recently witnessed an increase in crimes against children, including kidnappings and sexual offenses. A series of food safety-related incidents are adding to public uneasiness. Such serious crimes cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. To ensure that the general public can go about their everyday business without fear, it is urgently needed for the National Assembly to pass the bills designed to strengthen the punishment for such crimes. In this regard, I urge bipartisan cooperation once again.
Fellow citizens,
We need to change ourselves first before anyone else in order to survive the competition in the rapidly changing world. In addition, such changes should occur in a top-down manner. Our experiences in the past give an invaluable lesson that genuine change does not take place when the people in authority just give orders to their subordinates while sitting idly by. As President, I will change myself first. Like water soaking into the earth, the changes started by those in leadership positions need to be channeled down to the general public. Only then will genuine reforms occur.
In this context, the public sector should become the starting point of changes. We will sternly deal with corruptive practices by government officials with strengthened punishment. We will also sweep away the dirt and dust from every corner of our society, thereby making sure that each sector of society operates transparently and smoothly.
I ask the nation''s businesses to continue to reform on their own initiative, enhance management and make investment actively. It is also imperative that businesses engage in transparent and ethical management and earn public trust. Fortunately, many individual labor unions have expressed their support for the nation''s movement to revitalize the economy, allowing flexibility in their demands for wage hikes and pledging no strikes. I am very grateful for that. I hope that management will proactively respond to the goodwill and that the good omens we have witnessed for the first time in a long time will last long and further expand. The Government will do all it can to promote and facilitate such harmonious conditions for labor and management.
The world economy is in a difficult condition. Every nation is faced with hardships. We have to motivate ourselves to seize opportunities in adversity. When we join forces and use our collective wisdom, we may be able to mitigate the hardships better than other nations, make a turn-around quickly and lead others.
My visit to the United States and Japan this time represents the first step of the pragmatic diplomacy that the new Administration is pursuing. I will exchange views in depth with the leaders of the two countries on ways to solidify traditionally friendly relations as well as to assure peace and common prosperity in Northeast Asia. The visit will be neither ceremonial nor perfunctory in nature but should reap substantial results. After returning from Washington and Tokyo, I will plan for a visit to China and Russia as well.
A little more one month has passed since the new Administration was inaugurated. Amid many changes occurring inside and outside the country, inter-Korean relations are experiencing an adjustment while the framework of the past 10 years is being redefined. Recently, North Korea has spoken and behaved provocatively, but my Administration is coping with it calmly sticking to its own principled perspective.
The Government will cooperate with members of the Six-Party Talks so that the North will dismantle its nuclear program. We will try to persuade Pyongyang into believing that such a route will truly benefit itself. We know we are also bound to show our affection for the residents in the North as well as our keen interest in their everyday lives.
It is about time for Pyongyang to engage in dialogue with genuine sincerity and show its willingness to change so that it can adapt to the new international order. The Government is ready to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang as long as it helps solve the nuclear issue and enhances the lives of the North Korean residents substantively. The door is always open.
Fellow Koreans,
The country is now at a crossroads. If we fail to complete the foundation for an advanced Korea with high standing in the world within the next five years, we will never have such an opportunity in the future. The international conditions are difficult, but we have to turn this crisis into an opportunity. When the Government, political parties, businesses and labor become united as one and keep going forward, the nation can do it. Let us march together hand-in-hand toward the goal of building an advanced Republic, standing tall internationally.
Once more, I express my deep appreciation to all citizens, and I promise that the Administration will continue to work hard with the mindset that the Government only exists to serve the people.
Thank you very much.
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