President Lee to promise job creation, improved inter-Korean ties

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak plans to unveil later Monday
his policy goals for 2010 that will revolve around efforts to create jobs,
enhance the country's standing on the global stage, and improve relations with
North Korea, his office said.

In a 20-minute speech to be broadcast live across the country from 10 a.m., Lee
will also pledge to accelerate his reform drive in order to reap tangible fruits
in his third year in office, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
"Especially, President Lee will proclaim his will to bolster global diplomacy,
accelerate reform, and maintain his centrist pragmatic policy line for low-income
people this year," it said in a press release.
To that end, he will unveil a blueprint to produce more jobs so people will be
able to feel the effects of the economic recovery, it added.
South Korea, a leading Asian economy, is regaining confidence as it emerges from
the worldwide financial crisis ahead of many other nations. The country's trade
surplus hit a record high of US$41 billion in 2009 thanks to a drastic cut in
imports.
Lee also wants to "lay the cornerstone for South Korea to become a top-level
advanced country" this year by using Seoul's hosting of the Group of 20 economic
summit in November as a chance for upgrading the level of various social sectors.
On North Korea, Lee will detail a plan to upgrade relations with the communist
neighbor by one notch on the basis of existing principles and flexibility, Cheong
Wa Dae said.
Expectations are running high over another inter-Korean summit sometime this year
amid signs of an impending resumption of the six-way nuclear talks.
In its New Year's message, North Korea stressed the need to warm ties with South
Korea, saying that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the first inter-Korean
summit held in Pyongyang.
"Unshakable is our stand that we will improve the north-south relations and open
the way for national reunification," the North's main newspapers said in a joint
editorial issued Jan. 1.
The South Korean president would not comment on the sensitive domestic issue of
how to develop Sejong City in the center of the nation, his aides said. The
administration of the late President Roh Moo-hyun decided to relocate several
ministries and other government agencies into the town some 130 kilometers south
of Seoul, but Lee is seeking to revise his predecessor's plan.
"As the government is scheduled to announce a revision plan on Jan. 11, President
Lee will not touch on the issue," a presidential secretary said.
Lee's approval rating has rebounded close to 50 percent, apparently boosted by
his pragmatism-oriented policy and diplomatic achievements, the latest opinion
polls showed.
Meanwhile, Lee will hold a New Year's meeting Monday afternoon with a group of
about 300 leading figures, including the prime minister, the National Assembly
speaker, the heads of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, and the
National Election Commission, as well as business leaders and Chung Mong-joon,
head of the ruling Grand National Party.
Chung Sye-kyun, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, has been invited
to attend the meeting, but he is likely to reject the offer, party sources said.
The president will then chair the meeting of senior presidential secretaries to
review pending national issues.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)