Good morning, fellow Koreans,

This is my last radio and Internet address to the nation today. I have visited with you every other Monday morning for the past four years and five months.

My first radio address was aired in the fall of 2008 when the country was hit by the global financial crisis. Faced with an unforeseen situation that no advanced country or specialist around the world could have predicted, the Government put its highest priority and all-out efforts into reviving the economy. In 1997, when Korea was hit hard by the foreign exchange crisis that led to a bailout loan from the IMF, more than two million workers lost their jobs and approximately 20,000 businesses went under. With this past in mind, all I could think about was how to tide over the crisis.

When many of you were anxious, I wanted to give you comfort and encouragement through the radio address so that you could be cheered up. As there was a limit to what the Government could do in overcoming the crisis, I asked everyone to come together.

The radio address has thus far served as a channel for me to get my unvarnished thoughts about state affairs across to the public. In the process of production, I also had a chance to listen to the real stories of various people about their needs and concerns. In addition, I joined all the people in rejoicing at news about the nation’s achievements. I shared in their sorrow when there were difficulties and tried to comfort them.

When I called out the names of the 46 brave souls of the sunken naval ship Cheonan one by one in bidding a final farewell to them, I choked with emotion, and my heart ached. During the London Olympics, my heart leaped with joy, and I shouted in spite of myself.

Through the radio address, I could share with listeners some touching stories of the people I met at their workplaces. In the fall of 2010, I visited an early-morning agricultural and fisheries market in Guri to check on Chuseok prices. When I asked an elderly woman selling vegetables whether there was anything I could do to help, she took me by my hand and led me to another vegetable shop and said, “Please, help this shop for its business is worse than mine.”

People like this woman, who cares about her neighbors in a worse situation than she is even when she herself is in difficulty, deserved the main attention in the radio address and in our society as a whole.

I am wholeheartedly grateful to the people who have listened to my radio and Internet address and provided support. My true sincerity as well as the sweat, tears and simple and honest stories of our people are all contained in the radio address. For this reason, it will remain as a mirror of the five years of the Lee Myung-bak Administration in the years to come.

Fellow Koreans,

I am leaving office as President in a few days and returning to life as a private citizen. The past five years during which I have served as President with a mandate from the great people has truly been tough for me. But at the same time, it has also been a period of great pleasure and honor. I am very grateful to my beloved country and great people.

I did not aspire to the Presidency from the beginning. My early aspiration grew out of a simple dream in my childhood to have enough to eat. When I was young, I dreamed of getting a job that would pay me well. In the process of realizing those dreams one by one, I came to harbor a vision of working for the citizens of Seoul, and later for the country.

Traveling to every nook and cranny of the world, including sizzling deserts and the frozen terrain of Siberia as well as many countries in Africa, Europe and the Americas, I had chances to witness, listen to and experience a variety of things. On the basis of what I have learned in the process, I devoted myself to giving hope to young people, the elderly and the physically challenged as well as building a nation that can give hope to all children.

I remained committed to ushering in an era when a president genuinely serves the nation, leaving politicking behind. In a nutshell, I strove to become a worker for the country, rather than just a man in power. Believing that assuming this difficult task of the presidency at a time when the going was particularly daunting because of the global economic crisis was a special calling, I fulfilled what I had to do with all my mind and soul.

Thanks to the united efforts and support of the people over the past five years, Korea was evaluated as having overcome the unprecedented global economic crises in the most successful manner in the world. While most countries across the globe suffered setbacks, our nation’s sovereign ratings recorded an all-time high, and Korea stood tall as the seventh largest trading powerhouse. Referring to the emergence of our country, one foreign media outlet noted that Korea was the winner in the face of the global economic crisis.

The most pleasing piece of news was that Korea was placed at a higher position than Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and France on the where-to-be-born index which ranked countries according to where would be the best place to live in 2030 for a baby born this year. Passing a better country to live in to our posterity is truly rewarding for all of us, a feat that we all can be very proud of. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to all my fellow citizens for having patiently worked hard so far enduring all sorts of difficulties to surmount the economic crisis.

From my childhood, I have worked various jobs as a street vendor, day laborer and street cleaner. Understanding the hardships facing working-class people, my Administration increased the welfare budget more than any previous administration and exerted great efforts to better the lives of low-income families.

As a matter of fact, the lives of low-income families are still hard and tough. It is truly heartrending that I have to leave Cheong Wa Dae before seeing them smile brightly again. If, even after my retirement, I can help build a warm-hearted society where each and everyone can harbor a hope to live better, I will do whatever I can whenever even if it is only a little.

Over the past five years, I did my best in all my endeavors at every moment for the sake of the nation and the people. Thus, I do not have regrets. I have been the happiest worker in the Republic of Korea. Laying down the hefty responsibilities and duties, I am now going back to life as a private citizen.

The situation is still touch-and-go due to the global economic crisis. Notwithstanding, I am confident that Korea’s vigorous advance will continue as long as many young Koreans are taking up challenges dauntlessly in the international arena. Together with all the Korean people, I offer words of blessing to President-elect Park Geun-hye and the new Administration.

My fellow citizens,

Thank you very much, indeed.