Roh, “Reform Policies Should be Continued”

On May 15, President Roh Moo-hyun, at his address to the people upon permission to return to work, stated, “Based on principle and conviction, I will consistently drive forward reformation and alteration and maintain stability by securing a balanced national administration.”

Roh also added, however, “I have decided not to take the initiative of carrying out such a reform, as I believe that the newly organized 17th National Parliament will be the first to conduct the political reformation,” asserting his intention to concentrate on the role as a “stabilizing national administrator.”

Roh stated, “Though the court did not reach the conclusion of impeachment, I don’t think I have entirely gotten away with political and moral responsibilities.” Roh repeatedly apologized, saying that “because the blunders of my close associates and the error of organizing an illegal presidential election fund can be attributed to me, I want to beg forgiveness of the people once more, and treat it as a reminder to keep myself in line at all times.”

As for economic policies in the future, President Roh made it clear that no short-term measure for restoring the recessed economy will be put in use, remarking, “No effort that would damage the future competitiveness of our country will be applied in order to solve the pressing problems.”

Roh particularly brushed off the notion of “pessimism against the economy,” stating that “Those practices that overestimate the state of our current crisis and aggravate anxieties of the people in order to prevent the reformation should not exist. Currently, the variety of crisis factors is not serious enough for our people and government to be incapable of coping with.”

On the other hand, on May 17 President Roh will hold a conference at Chong Wa Dae to evaluate the economic situation in which economy-related ministers including Lee Hun-jae, who concurrently holds the position of deputy prime minister and financial and economic minister, will attend to examine the recent tendencies of the nation’s macro-economy and the state of the financial market in order to discuss the line of economy policies in the future.

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com