Those who have contributed significantly to the development of the Republic of Korea are countless. Among them, graduates from Seoul National University's College of Engineering and Hanyang University’s College of Engineering stand out undeniably. I have a deep fondness and respect for engineering graduates because it is science and technology that propel a nation into the ranks of developed countries.

Yesterday, I had a long, meaningful conversation with a group of international students from Hanyang University’s College of Engineering who visited our Itaewon branch. Although they came to study from developing countries, their academic caliber and skills are extraordinary.

They shared that as elite talents, they had opportunities to study in the United States, Europe, and various other nations. However, hearing the reason why they ultimately chose Korea resonated deeply with me. They harbor a powerful dream: to help rebuild and revitalize a nation that rose from the ashes, much like Korea once did. I warmly encouraged and cheered them on.

I also shared with them the history of our own country—how fifty years ago, many Korean students went abroad to study in the United States or Germany, often washing dishes and doing manual labor while pursuing their education. Those individuals eventually returned to their homeland and played a pivotal role in its monumental development.

I truly want to support and push these young minds forward in achieving their dreams. What must have been going through their hearts when they left their homes with just a suitcase of clothes and books, alongside a backpack? Coming to an unfamiliar land without parents, family, or friends, they must have carried a mixture of profound fear and flickering hope.

I want to be like a Korean mother, aunt, or older sister to them. After all, when my own son studied in the United Kingdom for seven years, my heart ached constantly. Knowing how hard it was for him to study and work part-time in a country where even water is expensive, every part-time worker I see now reminds me of my son.

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