韩国总统李明博2013年新年致辞

New Year’s Message by Lee Myung-bak<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

January 1, 2013 

My fellow Koreans,

New Year 2013, the Year of the Snake, has dawned. I hope the New Year will bring much comfort to the people and more prosperity to the nation.

I also send New Year’s greetings to all our compatriots overseas and wish our brethren in the North a warm glimmer of hope.

Over the past five years, the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s has continued and weighed down the lives of the people and the nation’s economy.

This period of great transition to a new world order, however, also constitutes a golden opportunity for another step forward.

The Government has thus far cemented the cornerstone for making Korea a leading advanced country by putting forth efforts to further advance industrialization and democracy.

Not only strong in the economy, the Republic of Korea has now emerged as a culture, sports and green power and is expanding its reach to the world to play a pivotal role in the international community.

There is an old saying that helps describe the situation facing Korea at the present—Sudoseonbu, which means that a large vessel floats naturally when water rises. Now is high time for our nation to hoist sails and continue its vigorous voyage toward the global stage building on its enhanced national strength.

Using the world’s third largest economic territory Korea has secured as a platform, I hope our nation will be able to usher in the era of US$2 trillion in trade as well as an era where all people can harbor hope to lead a happy life.

I also hope that Korea’s standing in the international community, which was unprecedentedly enhanced with the successful hosting of the 2010 G20 Seoul Summit and 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, will be further solidified in the years to come.

While safeguarding peace on the Korean Peninsula with watertight security preparedness, I hope the quiet movement for change that started in the hearts and lives of North Korean people will turn into big waves overflowing with energies for the unification of the Korean Peninsula.

If we combine our efforts in the coming year, rallying as a nation around President-elect Park Geun-hye, we will be the first to put crisis behind us and step into the shining light that awaits beyond this dark tunnel.

The days ahead will no doubt see an unbroken continuation of our great history of progress and miracles wrought by blood, sweat, and tears.

Fellow citizens,

Again last year, you reached out with warmth and generosity to your neighbors in need. I thank you for this, and I hope that the New Year will bring great joy and happiness to you and your families.

Thank you very much.