Korea will overcome crisis ahead of others
- 관리자
- 2009.01.14
- Hit 3454
"The government is managing state affairs with resolve to overcome the crisis ahead of other countries," said Prime Minister Han Seung-soo on Jan. 11.
Prime Minister Han was on a KBS TV talk show that morning. He said, "The entire world is suffering in the wake of this once-in-a-century global economic crisis. We in Korea are not an exception, either. In such an emergency, we need extraordinary ways of thinking and countermeasures."
He said, "The President put the government in emergency mode on Jan. 2. And since then the government has been in that mode."
When asked when he thought the economy would recover, he said, "I think we can overcome the difficulties by the first half of this year, and the economy will revive from the second half, and we can overcome the crisis ahead of any other country."
Asked about corporate restructuring, he said, "Those enterprises, whose revival is deemed impossible, will be subject to restructuring. But generally speaking, there will be no massive restructuring of the kind that took place in 1997 and 1998."
Asked about the Green New Deal policy, he said, "It aims to create jobs and get out of the recession in the short term, and expand growth potential and seek sustainable growth in the long term once the current crisis is over. It is a kind of strategy to prepare for the future."
Asked about the restoration and improvement of four major rivers (Han, Geum, Yeongsan, and Nakdong rivers) across the country, he said, "The government is set to revive potential of the Korean economy by restoring and improving four major rivers. In that process, various facilities, including (cross-country) bike paths, will be built."
Asked about the controversy regarding the Seoul-Incheon canal project, he said it has already been reviewed by various think tanks, adding, "The government wishes to facilitate the transportation of goods and breathe life into the national economy."
Touching on Seoul-Washington relations after U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration, he said, "I believe the Obama administration will regard Korea-United States relations as very important and maintain a good relationship with the Korean government, considering that stability on the Korean Peninsula is very important to the stability and development of Northeast Asia and the world."
With regard to the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, he said, "The Obama administration might have several other priorities. So we're worried that (the Korea-U.S. FTA ratification) might be put on the backburner. But such a bilateral trade deal will be beneficial to the economy of both countries. The government will ask the National Assembly and the U.S. Congress (to ratify) the deal."
Commenting on inter-Korean relations, he called on North Korea to come back to the dialogue table as soon as possible. He added, "It's a real regret that the inter-Korean relations came to a standstill after President Lee Myung-bak was inaugurated. We hope that 2009 will be a year that opens a new chapter in inter-Korean relations."
By Chung Myung-je
Korea.net Chief Staff Writer
Prime Minister Han was on a KBS TV talk show that morning. He said, "The entire world is suffering in the wake of this once-in-a-century global economic crisis. We in Korea are not an exception, either. In such an emergency, we need extraordinary ways of thinking and countermeasures."
He said, "The President put the government in emergency mode on Jan. 2. And since then the government has been in that mode."
When asked when he thought the economy would recover, he said, "I think we can overcome the difficulties by the first half of this year, and the economy will revive from the second half, and we can overcome the crisis ahead of any other country."
Asked about corporate restructuring, he said, "Those enterprises, whose revival is deemed impossible, will be subject to restructuring. But generally speaking, there will be no massive restructuring of the kind that took place in 1997 and 1998."
Asked about the Green New Deal policy, he said, "It aims to create jobs and get out of the recession in the short term, and expand growth potential and seek sustainable growth in the long term once the current crisis is over. It is a kind of strategy to prepare for the future."
Asked about the restoration and improvement of four major rivers (Han, Geum, Yeongsan, and Nakdong rivers) across the country, he said, "The government is set to revive potential of the Korean economy by restoring and improving four major rivers. In that process, various facilities, including (cross-country) bike paths, will be built."
Asked about the controversy regarding the Seoul-Incheon canal project, he said it has already been reviewed by various think tanks, adding, "The government wishes to facilitate the transportation of goods and breathe life into the national economy."
Touching on Seoul-Washington relations after U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration, he said, "I believe the Obama administration will regard Korea-United States relations as very important and maintain a good relationship with the Korean government, considering that stability on the Korean Peninsula is very important to the stability and development of Northeast Asia and the world."
With regard to the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, he said, "The Obama administration might have several other priorities. So we're worried that (the Korea-U.S. FTA ratification) might be put on the backburner. But such a bilateral trade deal will be beneficial to the economy of both countries. The government will ask the National Assembly and the U.S. Congress (to ratify) the deal."
Commenting on inter-Korean relations, he called on North Korea to come back to the dialogue table as soon as possible. He added, "It's a real regret that the inter-Korean relations came to a standstill after President Lee Myung-bak was inaugurated. We hope that 2009 will be a year that opens a new chapter in inter-Korean relations."
By Chung Myung-je
Korea.net Chief Staff Writer