Do Je-hae edits news stories as part of the AI team.
Moon to zero in on innovation, fairness
President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with his senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Yonhap
By Do Je-hae
By Do Je-hae
President Moon Jae-in stressed Monday that his administration perceives Japan's discriminatory export regulations as an “opportunity” to advance the nation's parts and materials industries.
“We are dealing with the regulations resolutely and confidently,” Moon said during a weekly meeting with his aides at Cheong Wa Dae. “Japan's export regulations are being used as an opportunity to strengthen the competitiveness of the materials and parts industries and pave the way for a country that cannot be shaken by anyone. In the process of transition, there have been many controversies and difficulties. There have been many political conflicts and often the necessary legislation faced delays. Some people must have experience inconvenience and pain. This is because the transition entails doing away with the past and finding a new way forward.”
The remarks came as the Moon administration has faced mounting criticism regarding its response to Tokyo's export restrictions which began in July with them being imposed on three materials crucial for the manufacture of semiconductors and display panels. Since then, Moon has said he will raise the competitiveness of the parts and materials sector, but industry watchers have pointed out that there have not been any visible outcomes.
A presidential committee for raising the competitiveness of the sector was established in September and the government announced a package of measures to reduce Korea's long-time dependence on Japan for parts and materials.
The meeting was the first official engagement for President Moon as he began the second half of his five-year presidency, Sunday. Moon said that his administration had spent the first two-and-a-half years of his presidency laying the foundations for the country's future. “Even if it is difficult, there are paths that must be taken for the nation's future. As a result of our hard work over the past two-and-a-half years, I believe that the foundation for a new Korea and definite change is being built. We have focused on developing new industries and creating new growth engines.”
Moon stressed that in the latter half of his presidency, he will be devoted to “changes that are actually visible to the people,” and will keep his focus on values such as “innovation, tolerance, justice and peace.” Justice has been a particularly important keyword in his presidency. “Justice is a trend that cannot be resisted,” Moon said. “Through the reform of various sectors of society, we should aim for a country that provides fair opportunities for all by correcting undue privilege and unfair elements.” The remarks were seen as highlighting a continued push for prosecutorial reform, even though his drive for this has been somewhat weakened with the scandal involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.
A day earlier, Moon's three top aides, presidential chief of staff Noh Young-min, Chung Eui-young, chief of the National Security Office (NSO) and policy chief Kim Sang-jo, also made similar assessments about the early phase of Moon's presidency in a joint press conference at Cheong Wa Dae.
But the opposition parties said that such “optimistic” views went against public sentiment. After the rare briefing, conservative media slammed Cheong Wa Dae for failing to reassure the people that things would be better in the upcoming half of Moon's presidency. At the forefront of the people's complaints has been the Moon administration's weak performance on improving the economy and the employment situation. The latest polls have shown that the President's job approval rating has been on a downward trend.