Congratulatory Address at the 20th Incheon Youth Culture Festival
I would like to welcome everyone who has come to
the Youth Culture Festival today, and I sincerely thank you all.
Today is your day, and I hope this time
will be a precious opportunity for you to nurture your dreams.
I would also like to express my gratitude
to Director Kim Gyeong-ho of the Youth Culture Center,
as well as to the representatives of the many youth organizations.
Why Youth Are So Precious
There is no group in society that isn’t valuable.
But why do we speak of youth, of being young,
as something so precious? It’s because you are our future.
The administrative vision of Incheon Metropolitan City is
“Incheon’s Dream, the Future of the Republic of Korea.”
The goal is to nurture Incheon’s dreams
and open up the future of the Republic of Korea.
The direction of Incheon City’s administration
is Only Incheon, Only Citizens, Only the Future.
In my office, the mayor’s office, there are just two photos:
one of teenagers, and one of children.
I am someone who believes that, as mayor,
my most important role is to help them have dreams.
The Importance of Self-Confidence
Of course, it’s important for society to support you
and stand behind you, but what matters most is you, yourselves.
You need to develop your own abilities
and nurture them so you can reach your full potential.
So, what do you think is most important for this?
Self-confidence is the most important thing.
I want to say this clearly, here and now.
The future belongs to you, and you are its protagonists.
If you have self-confidence and work hard in any field,
not only will you find personal happiness,
but you will also help the world progress.
I hope that today, surrounded by that confidence,
you will fully express your dreams and talents,
laugh together, applaud, and truly enjoy this time.
Incheon’s Growth and Our Pride
I may add just one more thing, passion
without love for your community and your country quickly loses its meaning.
Fortunately, Incheon is now the only major metropolitan city
in the Republic of Korea where the population is growing.
Except for Incheon, the populations of Seoul, Busan,
Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejeon are declining every year.
Incheon is the only city where the population is increasing, and economically,
Incheon has already surpassed Busan, which has a larger population,
to become the Republic of Korea’s No. 2 economic city.
What does this mean? It means that this growth and development
are making Incheon the city that will lead the future of the Republic of Korea.
That’s why I say, “Incheon is the Republic of Korea.”
And you are the ones who will create that future together.
I hope you will take pride in being here in Incheon and feel proud
to be a part of it, and that you will join us in building an even better future for Incheon.
As your mayor, I promise to actively support you and work with you
as you take responsibility and move forward into the future.
I love you all. Thank you.
