Good morning, fellow Koreans,

Now the heat wave has abated, and a fairly cool breeze is blowing in the mornings and evenings.

This summer was unusually hot, but the challenges of our Olympians who heated up the London Olympic Games brought us great pride and happiness. Throughout the Olympics, we all shouted our heads off to cheer them on and sometimes shed tears together.

In particular, the gratifying victories of the national football team revived all Koreans who were worn out by a stretch of tropical nights. A coach who trusts his players, the players who put the team before themselves and the citizens who rooted for them throughout the night all demonstrated the potential of standing together as one. That was the moment when we were truly happy and proud to be citizens of the Republic of Korea.

Last Thursday, when I met our athletes after they returned home in triumph from London, they told me that the support of the people made them able to perform well. I believe, however, that on the contrary, they were the ones who gave us much greater courage and encouragement.

At a time when we are faced with many difficulties at home and abroad, our athletes brought us the gift of enormous joy and great hope. I am very proud of each and every one of all our 245 Olympians, and I offer them my sincere gratitude.

Following the 2008 Beijing Olympic Summer Games and the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, the London Olympics served as an opportunity to reaffirm the fact that the Republic of Korea has proudly joined the ranks of advanced countries in sports as well.

As our athletes are performing brilliantly even in the events that were in the past dominated by European athletes, Korea’s sports have surely grown into those of advanced countries.

In the Beijing Olympics, we won as many as four gold medals just in taekwondo. But this year, Korea ended up with a single gold in taekwondo, however, our athletes attained many medals in other events as varied as fencing, gymnastics and swimming, which are regarded as sports typical of advanced nations.

Korea ranked fifth in the Vancouver Winter Olympics medal standings, and this time, too, the country stood tall as the fifth-ranked sports powerhouse in the London Summer Olympics. Through sports, we were convinced that we can make similar achievements in any other field depending on what we do.

During the London Olympics, peoples across the globe could also appreciate the quintessence of Korean culture.

Kkokdu are wooden figurines that were used as a means of decoration on funeral biers in Korea’s traditional funerals. Being displayed on the occasion of the London Olympics, they impressed numerous viewers with their colors and formative beauty. The museum officials expressed their intention to hold a special exhibition sometime later.

Artist Choi Jeong-hwa covered up the dull gray concrete pillars of the South Bank Centre in London with 7,000 fluorescent colored baskets. Local media extolled her work saying that the gray pillars were reborn as green living plants.

At the Victoria and Albert Museum, one of the ten most prestigious museums in the world, a Korean designer held a fashion show and Korean food was presented, grabbing the undivided attention of many participants. Besides sports, now Korean culture is also in the limelight on the global stage.

Watching the Olympic games, we were able to learn many lessons from our athletes’ strenuous efforts and sportsmanship.

From childhood, they have poured countless time into arduous training, persevering endlessly with sweat and tears; I was convinced that with such unbending spirit, nothing is impossible in this world. Regardless of the outcome of the match, participating in the Olympics as a member of Team Korea constitutes in itself a source of enormous pride.

Gymnast Yang Hak-seon could have blamed his underprivileged situation on other people while growing up. Still, he rid himself of such a negative mindset and won a battle with himself, finally achieving victory in a grand manner.

Some athletes did not succumb to injuries and did their best to the very end, contributing to the enhancement of the Olympic spirit. Hwang Woo-jin, who competed in the modern pentathlon, had trouble even walking after falling from a horse during the riding event. Yet he completed the full course and received a standing ovation. The following is what Hwang had to say:

“I did not want to give up. It was my first time in the Olympics. Competing in the Olympics in itself was an honor for me. Believing that the completion of the course would be a good experience, I ran aiming to finish the full course.”  

On the other hand, this past Olympics was punctuated by more erroneous decisions by referees than usual, bringing about heartbreaking tears to many athletes. But our national team members faithfully complied with all the decisions, being considerate to the losers and respecting the victors in a fine demonstration of genuine sportsmanship. When this kind of spirit and culture takes root in politics, the economy and other areas of society, we can put a truly advanced country in place.

I applaud Son Yeon-jae in particular who did not spare any sweat, tears, passion and effort despite the pain in her bruised, swollen feet. There are other athletes, including Shin Jong-hun, who failed to have their dreams realized this time, but I cheer them all in the hope that they will rise to the top after four years.

There are other national team members who sacrificed themselves behind the scenes. They are the staff members of the Korean Olympic Committee and various sports federations. A number of enterprises and individuals sponsored the athletes as well.

I am also grateful to the medical staff, sports scientists and dieticians who worked hard at the London training camp, helping the athletes display their full potential. There are still many other people who worked very hard to help the Korean national team during the Games, and I am most thankful to them all.

Fellow Koreans,

This Monday morning starts a new semester. Students are back to school for the second half of the year. Refreshed after summer vacations, company employees will enliven their workplaces again. Although the Olympic torch has gone out and seasonal festivities are winding down, it is time again to ignite our spirit and brace for new challenges.

The global economic crisis that started in the euro zone is making it difficult for all of us. But our national team’s brilliant performances were a great morale booster. They gave us the courage to believe that there is nothing we cannot achieve as long as we are united, keep on working and face challenges head on.

Over the past three months, Yeosu Expo was carried out successfully, awakening the visitors to the precious value and unlimited possibilities of the ocean. Special thanks are due to the dedicated organizers of the EXPO, citizens of Yeosu and South Cheolla Province and all the Korean people who supported the event enthusiastically.

Beginning next Wednesday, London again will be the site of the Paralympics. I wish the Korean national team great success, and I trust that the nation will show keen interest in the Games and enthusiastically support our national team.

Thank you very much.