President Roh Moo-hyun Talks about Economy, North Korea in a Meeting with Korean Residents in Saudi Arabia
It is splashed all over the daily newspapers everyday that Lone Star Funds made a fortune in Korea, but it is not widely known that those who bought Woori Bank stocks also took profits that were exactly four times their investments. As such, the banking sector in Korea is completely open and privatized today. It functions in accordance with market principles.
It is my assumption that former presidents, who are viewed as unsuccessful, would all love to come forward today to take credit for the Korea’s past economic success. But, now that I am in Saudi Arabia today, I think I found the answer to the question about who should be credited with the achievements. It is the Korean people who have done all these things. They are truly great people. You may not realize how great you are, but leaders in Saudi Arabia praised Koreans in unison whenever I met them. They all remember when Korean workers labored here in this country in the 1970s. The Saudi leaders are not just spouting rhetoric; they really regard our fellow countrymen as the best workers who were motivated and passionate and who had good skills and sincerity. I believe that Korean companies are now enjoying the benefits of such credit doing business here.
I have witnessed that Koreans residing overseas are lauded for setting successful examples of hard work and respect for the law and order of their adopted countries, including Saudi Arabia. They have successfully joined the mainstream of society, and I heard the same kind of story here in this country. I have not been moved that much by similar success stories of Koreans living in other countries, but they are reverberating so emotionally in my heart in this country. When I think of those who worked so hard in this hot and tough land, I feel particularly moved. A good friend of mine, who I grew up with in my hometown, came here as a laborer, but he never made it back home·because of an accident. Whenever I think of the Middle East and the Korean economy, I am always reminded of people like him.
The deployment of Korean troops to Vietnam is another issue where some people feel proud of the decision while others consider it inappropriate. Either way, as Korea experienced a Vietnam boom, the national economy made a leap to another level.
Koreans worked very hard within their own borders, but it was the Middle East boom that spawned an opportunity to move the country past a critical economic threshold. This is why Koreans still remember these two booms. Will there be a similar boom? When I was running for president, I said the third boom is in the offing in the North. The Korean economy will be presented with another opportunity upon the arrival of an era when inter-Korean relations improve; when our roads and railways are directly linked into China and Russia; when the regions in Manchuria and Primorsky Krai open up; and when trains carrying Korean goods thread their way along the Iron Silk Road all the way to Europe. Especially, the development of North Korea will give the Korean economy yet another chance to stride onto the global stage with a strong competitive edge. Korea is channeling its best efforts into the Gaeseong Industrial Complex project, a fledgling window of opportunity.
The biggest impediment to this goal is the issue of the North Korean nuclear program, which has not been resolved yet. We have put a lot of effort into resolving this issue, but we don’t hold the key. Yet, we can’t just twist the arms of those who do hold the key. This can be settled only if everyone is on the same page. The Korean Government made a great deal of persuasive efforts, sometimes going out of its way to show discipline by restraining from saying what it was itching to say; it did everything it could do. I think things will come along this time around. Some say prudent leaders do not count their chickens before they hatch, but this time things will be different.
In the many affairs Korea is involved with, I do not have particularly more information than you have. But I think I have a little more information than you when it comes to the questions concerning how inter-Korean relations and the Six-Party Talks will transpire. In Korea, many people have all along urged me to hold summit talks with North Korea. But each time, I responded by saying that although I wanted to have a summit, I wouldn’t be able to because the situation did not warrant it. And my responses have been proven right so far. Now, this time around, I will say that inter-Korean relations will go rather well. And I hope my word will prove right too.
Some people have chastised me for not dealing with the North sternly. They say the South is splurging by giving handouts to the North. I understand everything is in the beholders’ eye, but I really don’t think we have been splurging at all for the North. We have to give them at least what we have been giving them. Aid for the North is an investment for our future. Investment and handouts are different. Just because the Government gives them aid, it should not be labeled as pro-Pyongyang. What do they mean? Do they mean the Government is pro-Pyongyang, not pro-Seoul? This is ridiculous. In fact, I believe that in order for the Republic to survive, we have to be pro-Pyongyang as well as pro-Washington. When we keep facing-off against the North forever, how is the country going to bear the angst?
If we become friends, we can open a whole new world that is very different from where we are now. For the sake of bringing a brighter world, we have to overcome parts of our history. Certainly, there are some things we find very difficult to forgive, like the Korean War. But suppose we keep on nursing a grudge in our hearts, then we will never be able to open a new path into the future as we should. The damage will be too great for the nation to bear.
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2008년 8월 6일 17:22
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