President-led Chief Secretary Meeting Emphasizes Eradication of School Violence
Urges Ministry of Economy and Finance to Report Comprehensive Measures for Domestic Demand Revitalization
President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 27th instructed, "The Ministry of Education should promptly report measures to eradicate school violence in cooperation with local education offices and related agencies."
This appears to emphasize the preparation of follow-up measures after public criticism continued regarding the issue of school violence involving the son of Attorney Jeong Soon-shin, who was appointed as the head of the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters, and resigned just one day after his appointment.
President Yoon made these remarks during a senior secretaries meeting presided over by the president at the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning, according to a written briefing by Chief Secretary for Public Relations Kim Eun-hye.
Attorney Jeong Soon-shin (57), who was appointed as the 2nd head of the National Investigation Headquarters on the 24th, resigned on the 25th after reports surfaced that his son had continuously bullied classmates while attending the first grade of a prestigious autonomous private high school in 2017, resulting in a forced transfer, and that he had filed a lawsuit to cancel the disciplinary action but ultimately lost in the first and second trials as well as the Supreme Court.
Regarding this, spokesperson Lee Do-woon stated in a briefing the previous day, "President Yoon's position on school violence is clear," adding, "President Yoon views school violence as a violation of the right to receive free and fair education and takes it very seriously," and "the relevant ministries are currently discussing fundamental measures related to this."
However, Chief Secretary Kim's written briefing on the same day did not include any mention of President Yoon's instructions to strengthen the personnel screening system.
President Yoon further said, "Due to high inflation, high interest rates, and the side effects of oligopolistic structures, ordinary citizens are facing significant difficulties," and additionally urged, "The Ministry of Economy and Finance should lead comprehensive economic ministries in consultations to prepare and report on comprehensive measures to revitalize domestic demand." President Yoon has recently criticized companies in the telecommunications and financial sectors for not sharing the burden amid the side effects of oligopolistic structures.
Regarding the revitalization of domestic demand, options such as partially revising the enforcement decree of the Act on the Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft (commonly known as the Kim Young-ran Act) are also under consideration.
Moreover, President Yoon instructed concerning the toll fees for Yeongjong and Incheon bridges, "Even if it was a promise made by the previous administration, it is a national promise, so the central government, local governments, the Korea Expressway Corporation, and private companies should promptly seek a resolution for the convenience of the metropolitan area citizens."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
