By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak pledged to build a waterway to link Busan to Seoul during his campaign.
The project, which has caused intense debate, is to cut logistical costs and develop tourist attractions.
Lee insisted that the 500-km-long waterway help cut costs by approximately one-third and implement balanced regional development and that the areas around the canals will draw tourists.
Lee also suggested what he called a ``747 plan'' as another campaign pledge.
He pledged to achieve 7 percent economic growth, increase per capita income to $40,000 and make the nation the seventh largest economy in the world.
The President also pledged to construct international science and business cities.
Stressing the importance of science, he said Korea needs to obtain a new growth engine by building such cities.
Citing Silicon Valley as a model example, Lee said that his own version of science and business cities will support basic research and venture companies.
He also promised to give universities more autonomy in selecting students based on their own rules.
As the first step, Lee said that students will be able to check their national college entrance exam scores. Previously, students only receive a grade, not the exact score.
ksy@koreatimes.co.kr
