Dear friends, last year was challenging for both us humans and the planet. I believe many citizens would like to have him removed from the calendar. Still, I hope it's given something to everyone, taught them something, enriched them somehow and pushed them forward. Personally, 2020 has brought me a lot. Whether it's a completed dissertation I've been working on intensively all the year, it's a solidifying family relationships, and last but not least, it's brought me Uncle Martin status. Above all, let us look for the good around us, I believe that with a positive attitude together we can face up to the actual problems of the outside world. Let us take on the challenges of the coming year with the courage to tackle and struggle these problems. May the good be near you, the dark forces avoid you, and may 2021 be filled with love and understanding.

On the north side of Mt. Hallasan, on the largest Korean island of Jeju, the path was not visible as I descended thousands of steps from the crater of this tallest Korean mountain back to the city. Even if we sometimes cannot see the end of the road as shown in the photo, let's hold on to the hope that we're going the right way. Because hope and trust can get us where we need to go. And you know that plenty of hope and trust will be necessary in 2021.