Having returned from his China tour, President
Moon Jae-in feels key diplomatic agendas have
been more or less taken care of.
Meeting with his top aides to start the week,
the liberal leader also highlighted the urgency
of economic issues, and what needs to be done
to bring forth changes that can be felt by
the people.
Our chief Presidential office correspondent
Moon Connyoung has tonight's top story.
The state visit to China this past week helped
address and wrap up the most imminent diplomatic
challenges facing South Korea... within the
year.
That's South Korean President Moon Jae-in's
assessment of his four-day trip... as he came
face to face with his top aides for the first
time since returning home over the weekend.
(Korean)
"Through this visit, South Korea and China
have been able to establish a stronger and
more mature strategic cooperative partnership
unswayed by external factors."
.
His foremost concern back on home soil...
the economy.
Noting that although the 2017 growth rate
for Asia's fourth-largest economy is expected
to top the earlier forecast of 3-percent and
the nation's job market seeing an upturn...
the South Korean leader pointed to youth unemployment
as an area that remains a persistent problem.
(Korean)
"I urge the government to place extra emphasis
on youth employment measures and swiftly execute
the US$17.7 bil. job creation budget in the
early part of the new year so that the impact
can trickle down to the people."
19 2000 .
He also called for efforts to make sure the
2-point-8 billion U.S. dollar job stabilization
fund is properly administered so that small
and medium businesses aren't negatively affected
by the hike in minimum wage.
Among various issues discussed during the
meeting today, the Blue House focused on the
abolishment of cumbersome cybersecurity software
programs and plug-ins as early as in the first
few months of next year... as they are not
only outdated by the global cybersecurity
standard but also lead to a slowdown in user
experience...
especially those living overseas trying to
purchase South Korean products online.
(STAND-UP)
"Having completed what the Blue House has
termed as "the diplomatic task of the year,"
the Moon administration is quickly shifting
its focus to domestic affairs... especially
in the business and economic areas with the
latest polls showing improvement in economic
conditions as number one priority among the
average Koreans in the new year.
Moon Connyoung, Arirang News, the Blue House."
