An optical reading and writing system including a base; an optical disk rotatably mounted on the base; an optical pickup including an objective lens, focusing a light beam to form a light spot on a recording surface of the optical disk; an actuator arm mounted on the base such that the actuator arm can pivot in the radial direction of the optical disk by a voice coil motor; a load beam supported by the actuator arm, and capable of moving slightly up and down and in the radial direction of the optical disk by an external force; a flexure attached to the load beam, supporting a slider to enable the slider to contact the recording surface; and a driving unit mounted on free ends of the actuator arm and the load beam, providing a driving force in the radial direction to the free end of the load beam.