On December 19 2007, Lee Myung-bak was elected the 17th president of South Korea. President Lee was elected with 50.2% support. This was much higher than the other presidential nominees. The Gazette asked Keimyung students about their hopes for the next presidency.President Lee, I heard you say the following in a public broadcast: “I will create a world where young people can choose good jobs,” “I will unfailingly revive the economy,” and “I will serve our nation and people.” They are impressive words that I cannot help admiring. Though I didn't vote for you as president, I am with you in considering Korea's future.

It is very regretful that most young people want to become public servants, spending their precious time (about 1 or 2 years) just because it looks like a safe and secure job. As you said, nothing is more important than growing as people of talent.

I have two specific requests for you: first, one of your core commitments was reviving our economy. Above all, I want you to keep in mind that if we permit our economy to drift and decline, the vulnerable will suffer most. Second, what you do and say will influence the world as well as our country.

On behalf of university students, I’d like you to develop Korea as much as you promised. Can we expect that you will do what no generation has had to do before?


I hope the president corrects irregularities and corruption in our society. I think integrity was our country’s virtue in the past, but it has disappeared and irregularities and corruption are now common in our society. Many irregularities and corruption like Samsung’s slush fund, some famous people’s forging of degrees, BBK stock price manipulation, and many other scandals have been occurring constantly. Especially I hope the law will become equal to everyone. Our society believes that rich people gain money by dishonest means. Also, a few criminals can gain their freedom by using their money, so our society is dissatisfied with the rich. I hope the law will be equal to all and I think correcting the law and system is the method to advance Korea.

I also hope the president will be concerned about culture. In the past, for economic growth, our government didn’t think culture important, but now the cultural industry is very important to make high quality of life. The president needs to put more effort into making a more practical system to popularize the cultural industry. The public should have easy access to a better cultural life.


The president promised to make a grand canal. I think this is a good idea. Through a grand canal, our nation will profit. First we will gain jobs within the construction and tourism industries. A grand canal will solve the unemployment problem. Second, a grand canal will develop the transportation industry. As yet, inland transport is only by car, train, and plane, but if a grand canal was completed, we could transport goods by ship. Also, if we use a grand canal, trade with China and Japan will become easier. That will give large economic profits to our nation. Third, a grand canal will require foreign investment. Foreign investment will develop our economy and various industries, so a grand canal will be very useful to our nation.

However, I think we should keep in mind the problems. A grand canal will be useful to our nation, but it may cause a few problems. First, it could cause environmental problems. A grand canal could change our ecosystem, and hurried development could destroy our ecosystem. If these problems occur, we will suffer a large loss. Second, a grand canal could increase the gap between the rich and the poor. If the profits are distributed unevenly, it will promote large problems like resentment among locals. I hope President Lee has an exact plan and a sense of responsibility about his work.

President Lee Myung-bak has to make our education liberalized and globalized with advanced leadership by relieving education regulations. As a leading nation in Asia, we should create supreme universities. The very core of an advanced nation is to cultivate detailed human resources. It means we need fundamental values based on a general rule and originality, taking a defiant attitude. To us, there is a necessity for generating original mythology of success with unshakeable faith in our own convictions. The education system must be changed to realize those wishes. For sure, this problem can't be solved during his presidency. The achievement of educational globalization never comes merely through a declaration, but if Lee's government establishes the base for educational reform and carries out its policies in a future-oriented manner, the results will be dazzling in the near future.

Never tire, never yield, and never stop. Korea also must renew the purpose to make our country more just and generous, and to affirm the dignity of our lives and everyday life. Then the years and changes will be accumulated not by the minority but by the majority.