Too early for complacency on economic rebound: finance minister

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's government will continue with its
expansionary macroeconomic policy as the nation's economy still faces many
downside risks, the nation's top economic policymaker said Monday.

"It is too early to fall into complacency about our economy, since potential
downside risks still linger such as instability in global financial markets,
rising oil prices and the currency exchange rate issue," Finance Minister Yoon
Jeung-hyun told a meeting with business leaders. "In order to successfully
survive the crisis, we will stick to our expansionary macroeconomic policy
stance."
Yoon made the comments during the meeting with leaders of the nation's five
biggest business lobby groups including the Federation of Korean Industries and
the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The minister reaffirmed that the government will continue its focus on creating
jobs this year as part of efforts to stabilize the livelihood of citizens feeling
the most pinch of the economic slump.
He called for companies to take a more "active role" in helping create jobs and
expanding investment, explaining to the business leaders what the government has
done to ease regulations aimed at encouraging their business activities.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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