A promising new year of the golden pig year has dawned for 2019.

I sincerely wish everyone good health, happiness and joy in the coming year by getting energy from the sun rising with vigorous power in the East Sea.

In the past year, after being appointed as the governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, I was able to begin the change and innovation for creating a new future of Gyeongsangbuk-do thanks to your support and understanding.

Currently, the polarization of wealth has become serious in Korea, as well as other conflicts between regions, classes, generations and genders that are at a breaking point. There are widespread concerns about whether a sustainable society is possible with so much conflicts everywhere. I believe that there's hope the residents of Gyeongsangbuk-do will be able to overcome this difficult time. We have already proven ourselves through Korea's five-thousand-year history where our ancestors overcame various hardships with the spirits of 'patriotism' and 'sacrifice'.

Therefore, this year I will focus our capabilities on implementing specific projects that can only be done by Gyeongsangbuk-do and which needs to be done by us. The projects are as follows: the Good Neighbor Model Village for promoting the rural community, which is disappearing; the Paid Young Farmers that give hope to young people in farming; the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation that extensively innovates the agricultural distribution system; the Happy Marriage Mutual-Aid Project for Young People that shares the burden of wedding expenses on young people; the Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture & Tourism Organization that strengthened its marketing and sales abilities; the Gyeongbuk Tourism Promotion that attracts employees and families of Korean companies located abroad; the Happy Helpers for Senior Citizen Centers who respect the elderly while also creating new jobs; the Gyeongbuk Mandatory Childcare Service that removes the burden of the daycare centers' parents; the Attraction of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, which is a national research institute for developing future nuclear technologies; and the Globalization of the Saemaeul Movement that has been highly praised as the model for overcoming the global poverty.

Also, we will do our best to deliver warmth to those in need and difficulty, while easing the burden of the working classes and the self-employed. We will strive to raise the morale of the workers and business people.

We will promote new businesses that show the strength of Gyeongsangbuk-do in early stages and take the lead in the new era of the fourth industrial revolution by investing in companies to meet to their demands. In addition, Gyeongsangbuk-do's East Sea will act as the base for the new northern economic policy.

With Daegu from the same family and root, we will create a strong economic community by seeking co-existence through collaboration. In particular, we will integrate and move to the Daegu Airport to open the skies of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of provisional government of the Republic of Korea, as well as the 100th anniversary of the March 1st Declaration of Independence. Gyeongsangbuk-do is home to the largest number of independence fighters across the nation.

As our ancestors have dedicated their lives to serve the country, we should join hands to pass on a proud Gyeongsangbuk-do and a good nation to our future generations. Once again, Happy New Year!

Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do,

Cheol Woo Lee