utgoing President Lee Myung-bak said Monday he believes South Korea will be the first country to see the "bright light at the end of the dark tunnel" of the global economic slump if the nation works hard with his successor Park Geun-hye.

Lee made the remark in his New Year's message, using an ancient adage made up of four Chinese characters, "Sudoseonbu," which means

a large ship automatically floats up if water levels rise. Lee used ship and rising water to refer to South Korea and its national strength.

"Based on our enhanced national strength, it is time to hoist our sail toward the world and move powerfully forward," Lee said in the message. "If we unite national energies and work hard with President-elect Park Geun-hye, we will be able to move past the last peak of the crisis and be the first to see the bright light at the end of the dark tunnel in the new year."

Lee also issued a separate message to civil servants, thanking them for their hard work to overcome economic and natural disasters during his five years of presidency, and wishing them good health and prosperity. (Yonhap News)