The recent upturn in the Korean economy appears
likely to help Korea achieve economic growth
this year of 3 percent.
And today, a regular meeting with top aides,
President Moon said it's important that all
levels of society benefit from that growth.
But to making that a reality, he said, will
require labor, management and government to
work together.
Our Blue House Correspondent Hwang Hojun reports.
President Moon declared Monday that South
Korea's economy is at a very significant turning
point.
Meeting with his top aides, President Moon
noted that economic growth in the 3rd quarter
reached one-point-four percent in spite of
external and internal difficulties, including
North Korea's nuclear provocations.
And that, he said, puts the government's goal
of three-percent growth for the year comfortably
within reach.
Notably, the figure of 3-percent was recently
revised upwards by four tenths of a percentage
point from a previous estimate in July.
He credited the hard work of both business
and labor as well as his administration's
consistent economic policy.
But he warned the government against complacency.
(KOREAN)
"Now what's important is to focus on increasing
the quality of our growth rather than its
quantity."
( .)
President Moon said consistent economic growth
will only be possible when the economic recovery
brings about more jobs and consumption.
To make sure the fruits of the recovery are
enjoyed by each and every economic player,
President Moon asked his aides to do more...
and to confidently pursue growth policies
based on raising incomes and innovation...
with the goal of transforming the nation's
contorted growth structure.
The South Korean President also stressed that
the government's efforts alone are not enough
to achieve such a shift... and asked for dialogue
and participation from labor and management
as well.
(KOREAN)
"Reaching a social consensus on economic and
labor policies is by no means easy, but it
is the call of this age and one that we must
achieve."
( .)
(STANDUP)
Also on Monday, President Moon once again
emphasized that the nation and its economy
will develop -- and corporations and the labor
force will grow -- only when everyone is willing
to yield, to share each other's burdens, and
seek to narrow the economic gap.
Hwang Hojun, Arirang News.
