President Roh reconfirms commitment to social unity


President Roh reconfirms commitment to social unity
Jan. 18, SEOUL, South Korea - President Roh Moo-hyun delivers a special televised speech Wednesday, voicing strong confidence in South Korea's long-term economic potential and disclosing a list of future national tasks, including strengthening of the nation's industrial competitiveness. (Yonhap)
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In the 40-minute speech broadcast live by the nation's major TV networks, the president declared his government's desire to conclude a free trade deal with the United States as soon as possible.

Roh also vowed to further open the nation's education and medical service sectors to foreign competition as part of efforts to revitalize the economy.

He stressed that social and economic polarization would pose a serious obstacle to sustained economic recovery.
The president also counted disparity between large and small companies, discrimination toward non-regular workers, the problems faced by the self-employed, youth unemployment and the aging society as being among the nation's future challenges.

Roh said his administration will focus on job creation, stable economic management, fostering of small businesses, service sector aid and expansion of social service jobs this year as part of efforts to help curb the trend toward social polarization.

"The Korean economy is plagued by a number of polarization problems, such as worsening income disparity and the widening gap between large and small firms," the president said.

"The key to resolving the (problem of) income disparity is job creation. Our government is determined to create as many as 130,000 new jobs this year."
In the address, titled "Let's prepare for the future with a responsible attitude," the president asked the nation to behave and think responsibly to tackle social polarization and other national tasks.

Roh also declared his determination to create a more responsible and competitive bureaucratic society through further renovation of its systems.

Roh also declared government efforts to help reduce private educational expenses, regulate real estate speculation and protect low-income earners and other socially underprivileged people.

Noting that the average wage of non-regular workers stands at just 60 percent of that of regular workers, Roh called on business and labor circles to swiftly reach an agreement on the proposed non-regular worker legislation.

As evidence points increasingly to the nation's economy being on the rebound, the president said the nation's exports grew by double digit over the past three years, with a trade surplus of US$23.5 billion recorded last year.

He also pointed to the steady recovery in domestic consumption, citing over-4 percent rise in last year's third and fourth quarters.

The president dismissed concerns that South Korea's economy would be surpassed by that of China's in five to 10 years, saying that the government has already selected 10 future growth industries and has been preparing for the future.

The televised speech came ahead of Roh's New Year's press conference scheduled for the morning of Jan. 25 at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

Meanwhile, the ruling Uri Party said the speech reflected an accurate understanding of the challenges confronting the country, including the widening gap between the haves and have-nots and the need for more jobs. The party said the president also set precise directions for the country to follow to overcome these obstacles.

"The speech outlines the president's concern for current problems and future tasks," Uri spokesman Jun Byung-hun said.

However, the opposition Grand National Party and minor parties criticized Roh's speech as lacking in substance.

"President Roh seems intent on praising his own policies, while neglecting to share in the pains of the people," said GNP spokesman Lee Ke-jin.

지금 한국의 가장 큰 사회문제는 양극화문제이다. 하지만 한국은 미국과는 달리 정부가 개입해서 사회양극화문제를 해결할것이다.
이것이 바로 미국과 한국이 다른점이다.