"A complete paradigm shift."
That's how President Moon Jae-in is describing
his administration's new economic policy direction.
The president made the remarks at his first
Cabinet meeting exclusively made up of members
he personally handpicked.
Our chief Blue House correspondent Moon Connyoung
starts us off.
It's the third Cabinet meeting chaired by
the new president since taking office 76 days
ago but, the weekly session on this Tuesday
marked a first in various aspects: One, it
was the first time that all those in attendance
were appointees of President Moon Jae-in...
and two...
"The government structure has been reorganized
and supplementary budget has been finalized.
.
The new administration is now fully operational."
.
The South Korean leader whose key focus lies
on job creation and employment-oriented growth
stressed that it is now time for the government
to execute the extra budget and demonstrate
its effectiveness with performance and results.
"This government's advocacy for a fair and
just society will not mean a thing if the
average Koreans can't feel it in their everyday
economic activities;
‘ '
if they can't feel that it's helped improve
the quality of their lives."
' ."
After being stuck in the opposition-led parliament
for over a month, the Moon government's 9-point-8
billion U.S. dollar supplementary budget bill
aimed at improving the lot of jobseekers in
the country passed the National Assembly just
last week.
"Our goal of a 'people-centered economy' and
policy direction to achieve a job-oriented,
fair economy based on income-led, innovative
growth means a "complete paradigm shift" in
the Korean economy."
, , ,
.
A shift from an economy that, for decades,
relied on growth led by big businesses...
one that's become Asia's fourth-largest economy
with its export-oriented economic model.
"President Moon's plan to reorganize the government
was also approved by the Cabinet on this Tuesday...
giving way to adding one more ministry to
the previous 17 - a ministry dedicated to
promoting SMEs and startups...
AND reinstating a trade office under the trade
and industry ministry.
When those positions are filled... likely
sometime this week... the Moon administration
will set sail on a five-year journey riding
on sky-high expectations from the people.
Once it has, there's no turning back.
Moon Connyoung, Arirang News, the Blue House."
