ID :
36309
Thu, 12/18/2008 - 16:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/36309
The shortlink copeid
Lee urges civil servants to revamp mindset in face of crisis
SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday urged civil servants to work proactively to weather the ongoing financial crisis and turn it into an opportunity for a fresh economic take-off, complaining that reform-resistant bureaucrats are still passive in enforcing reform and stimulus measures.
Meeting with top-ranking officials of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and
other government bodies in charge of macroeconomic policies, Lee promised that
the government will take full responsibility for all mistakes made by civil
servants in the process of fighting the economic crisis.
Lee reiterated that his government will put its top policy priority on retaining
the existing jobs and maximizing the creation of new job opportunities,
forecasting that the year 2009 would witness the toughest economic times in
modern history.
"Policy measures enforced during the 1997-1998 foreign exchange crisis cannot be
applied again, because the ongoing financial crisis is unprecedented. Without a
proactive attitude by civil servants, this crisis cannot be overcome," said Lee.
"Civil servants should aggressively move to turn this crisis into an
opportunity... Many are taking the initiative in combating the crisis, but some
still remain passive."
The meeting Thursday was for a policy briefing on major 2009 macroeconomic goals.
South Korea's government ministries usually report their annual policy plans to
the president between January and February.
This time, however, the government advanced the schedule for its 22 ministries by
approximately one month in a bid to implement its economic stimulus measures as
quickly as possible. The advanced schedule is also related to the government's
plan to front-load 70 percent of its annual fiscal spending in the first half.
According to political watchers, Lee's remarks may be a signal of an upcoming
sweeping shakeup of reform-shy ranking officials at major ministries, who are
blamed for failing to faithfully carry out the conservative president's reform
policies.
Following the upcoming replacement of top government officials, Lee is expected
to conduct a Cabinet reshuffle early next year to revamp the overall
administrative atmosphere ahead of his first inaugural anniversary in February.
At the policy briefing meeting, Lee again stressed the importance of a nationwide
readiness for the future.
"All economic entities, including the government and private companies, should
encourage one another and refrain from negative criticism to help back the
government's efforts. Korea's further economic leap in the post-crisis era will
largely depend on how we approach the current crisis," the president said.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
Meeting with top-ranking officials of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and
other government bodies in charge of macroeconomic policies, Lee promised that
the government will take full responsibility for all mistakes made by civil
servants in the process of fighting the economic crisis.
Lee reiterated that his government will put its top policy priority on retaining
the existing jobs and maximizing the creation of new job opportunities,
forecasting that the year 2009 would witness the toughest economic times in
modern history.
"Policy measures enforced during the 1997-1998 foreign exchange crisis cannot be
applied again, because the ongoing financial crisis is unprecedented. Without a
proactive attitude by civil servants, this crisis cannot be overcome," said Lee.
"Civil servants should aggressively move to turn this crisis into an
opportunity... Many are taking the initiative in combating the crisis, but some
still remain passive."
The meeting Thursday was for a policy briefing on major 2009 macroeconomic goals.
South Korea's government ministries usually report their annual policy plans to
the president between January and February.
This time, however, the government advanced the schedule for its 22 ministries by
approximately one month in a bid to implement its economic stimulus measures as
quickly as possible. The advanced schedule is also related to the government's
plan to front-load 70 percent of its annual fiscal spending in the first half.
According to political watchers, Lee's remarks may be a signal of an upcoming
sweeping shakeup of reform-shy ranking officials at major ministries, who are
blamed for failing to faithfully carry out the conservative president's reform
policies.
Following the upcoming replacement of top government officials, Lee is expected
to conduct a Cabinet reshuffle early next year to revamp the overall
administrative atmosphere ahead of his first inaugural anniversary in February.
At the policy briefing meeting, Lee again stressed the importance of a nationwide
readiness for the future.
"All economic entities, including the government and private companies, should
encourage one another and refrain from negative criticism to help back the
government's efforts. Korea's further economic leap in the post-crisis era will
largely depend on how we approach the current crisis," the president said.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
