"Priority on Jobs Until End of Term... The End of Corona Is Starting to Show"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 10th, marking the 4th anniversary of his inauguration, President Moon Jae-in announced that he will focus all efforts on job recovery and resolving COVID-19 disparities during the remaining one year of his term. Regarding the outlook for overcoming COVID-19, he assessed that "the end has begun to come into view." Concerning the semiconductor industry, which is at the center of the US-China technological hegemony war, he pledged to "steadfastly maintain South Korea's status as the world's top semiconductor power."

In a special speech at the Blue House on the morning of the day marking his 4th anniversary in office, President Moon said, "Until the end of my term, I will prioritize jobs above all else and do my best to create even one more job." While evaluating that recent economic sentiment has improved to pre-COVID-19 levels, he added, "Only when all citizens feel the warmth of economic recovery can we say it is a 'complete economic recovery,'" identifying the job sector as the top priority to achieve this. President Moon stated, "We will focus on creating quality private-sector jobs, promptly execute the job budget, and will not hesitate to make additional fiscal investments if necessary."

He pointed to manufacturing, especially semiconductors, as the main driver of economic recovery. President Moon said, "Amid the great transformation of the global economy, semiconductors have become the core infrastructure of all industrial sectors," and added, "We will use the current semiconductor boom as an opportunity for a new leap forward to protect our national interests." He also noted that the COVID-19 crisis has reversed the trend of 'reducing inequality,' promising to pay attention to support for self-employed workers and resolving care disparities. Regarding real estate issues, he declared, "Learning from the great hurt caused to the public by real estate speculation among public officials and public institution employees, we will complete fundamental institutional reforms to establish transparent and fair real estate transaction order and to block the root of illegal speculation."

He also expressed his intention to expedite the achievement of herd immunity through COVID-19 vaccination, moving the target date earlier than the original November plan. President Moon said, "We plan to vaccinate more than 13 million people by the end of June and complete the first dose for all eligible citizens by the end of September, advancing the goal of achieving herd immunity in November ahead of the original schedule." He then urged the public, saying, "The end of the war against COVID-19 has begun to come into view. Please endure just a little longer."