ID :
86922
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 23:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/86922
The shortlink copeid
President Lee calls for sweeping administrative reform
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak called on his closest aides
and secretaries Friday to modify and improve their way of doing everyday
business, saying overall reform of the administration begins with small changes.
The president also noted such an initiative by his top officials will have
positive effects throughout the administration.
"When next February comes, we begin the third year of our administration. Now is
the time when we need a more mature strategy," the president said in a weekly
meeting with his secretaries at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, according
to his spokesman Park Sun-kyoo.
"We must not be bound to the old, habitual way of doing things. We must continue
to excel through new ways of thinking," the president was quoted as saying.
Lee's remarks came two days after his ruling Grand National Party (GNP) suffered
a painful defeat in National Assembly by-elections that also took some of the
shine off the president, who has recently enjoyed a record-high approval rate of
over 50 percent.
The GNP took two of five seats up for grabs in the parliamentary by-elections,
but lost both of the two seats in Seoul's satellite cities of Suwon and Ansan,
which are considered a barometer of public support because of their relatively
neutral political affiliation.
The ruling party's only victories came in a district in Gangwon Province where
the main opposition Democratic Party did not field any candidate, and the other
in its traditional power base in South Gyeongsang Province.
The president warned against unilateral or top-down way of doing things.
"We must not be an organization ruled by unilateralism. We must listen to what
our lowest government officers at the front have to say and actively discuss any
plausible issues with an open mind," Lee told the meeting, according to his
spokesman.
The president noted it was important for those in the highest office to initiate
reform, saying, "Korea could be a different nation even if only the officials at
Cheong Wa Dae changed."
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak called on his closest aides
and secretaries Friday to modify and improve their way of doing everyday
business, saying overall reform of the administration begins with small changes.
The president also noted such an initiative by his top officials will have
positive effects throughout the administration.
"When next February comes, we begin the third year of our administration. Now is
the time when we need a more mature strategy," the president said in a weekly
meeting with his secretaries at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, according
to his spokesman Park Sun-kyoo.
"We must not be bound to the old, habitual way of doing things. We must continue
to excel through new ways of thinking," the president was quoted as saying.
Lee's remarks came two days after his ruling Grand National Party (GNP) suffered
a painful defeat in National Assembly by-elections that also took some of the
shine off the president, who has recently enjoyed a record-high approval rate of
over 50 percent.
The GNP took two of five seats up for grabs in the parliamentary by-elections,
but lost both of the two seats in Seoul's satellite cities of Suwon and Ansan,
which are considered a barometer of public support because of their relatively
neutral political affiliation.
The ruling party's only victories came in a district in Gangwon Province where
the main opposition Democratic Party did not field any candidate, and the other
in its traditional power base in South Gyeongsang Province.
The president warned against unilateral or top-down way of doing things.
"We must not be an organization ruled by unilateralism. We must listen to what
our lowest government officers at the front have to say and actively discuss any
plausible issues with an open mind," Lee told the meeting, according to his
spokesman.
The president noted it was important for those in the highest office to initiate
reform, saying, "Korea could be a different nation even if only the officials at
Cheong Wa Dae changed."
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
