By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President-elect Lee Myung-bak Monday called on liberal party lawmakers to cooperate in passing the planned bill on government reorganization, saying it will be the cornerstone for a bullish economy.
In his New Year's press conference in Seoul, Lee said the transition committee will soon announce plans to reshuffle ministries and government agencies, stressing that he hopes the pro-government United New Democratic Party (UNDP) will not boycott the move.
``Many countries have already carried out government structural reform to strengthen national competitiveness,'' said Lee who was elected as president on the ticket of the conservative opposition Grand National Party (GNP) in December's presidential election. ``We will lose a chance to become an advanced nation if we lose the current opportunity.''
Should all of the UNDP and the progressive Democratic Labor Party (DLP), which have 141 and nine seats in the 299-member National Assembly, respectively, cast dissenting votes, the bill cannot pass the legislature. The GNP has 128 seats.
``I'll open the era in which opposition parties will not unconditionally oppose government policies for the sake of opposition,'' the incoming President said.
Describing the structural revamping as a historic task, Lee also asked people to support the upcoming bill ``with patriotism.''
The transition team has drafted its plans to whittle down the number of ministries and streamline bureaucracy as it seeks to build a more efficient, low-cost government. Furthermore, it is considering dismissing about 10 percent of civil servants.
The next government is pushing to consolidate 18 government ministries into 14 and downsize organizations and personnel at the presidential and prime ministerial offices.
Asked about the possibility of weakening the power of the prime minister's office instead of giving more power to the presidential office, Lee said, ``Their roles will be apparently divided.''
Formerly, GNP lawmakers used to shun a variety of reform bills presented from liberals, by staying away from Assembly discussions or votes deliberately.
As for the economy, Lee said although the world's economy has faced difficulties, South Korea can revive its economy and improve public living conditions.
``Based on stability, not on too many policies, we will mull measures to find growth engines and raise up the growth potential,'' he said.
For the goal, he vowed to take initial steps from revamping the government structure and to establish relevant laws. ``It is important to start from the basic even though time is short.''
Lee denied speculation that the next government will perform ``only business-friendly'' policies, saying that fostering environments for active investments will be the right way for laborers and people.
Lee pledged to create 600,000 more jobs and resolve the issue of widening income disparity during his five-year tenure until February 2013.
However, some critics began denouncing him, pointing out the difference between his campaign pledges and current policies.
While his main pledge was the immediate launch of a cross-country canal if elected president, he told reporters it will take about two to three years to see the groundbreaking of the construction.
He said the grand canal project cannot fully be handled only by the government. ``The issue is whether private funds will participate in the move.''
Lee also lowered his target of economic growth for this year to the 6 percent level, turning from his pledge to achieve 7 percent growth during the presidential campaign. ``We are determined to resuscitate the economy, but won't rely on any short-term stimulus package,'' he said.
The growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) for 2007 is expected to stay at the 4 percent level.