Acting Chief Choi: "Immediate Execution of Business Budgets Necessary for Livelihood Economy Recovery"

"Mobilizing All Available Resources for Full Effort to Restore the Livelihood Economy"
"Each Cabinet Member Acts as Acting Authority in Their Respective Areas"

Yonhap News

Choi Sang-mok, Acting President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Strategy and Finance, urged relevant ministries on the 7th to "immediately commence budget execution for projects necessary to restore the livelihood economy and to swiftly implement measures to revive domestic demand, including consumption, construction, tourism, and regional economies."

In his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office that morning, Acting President Choi stated, "There is growing concern that the already difficult livelihood economy will freeze further due to the recent political situation."

Acting President Choi emphasized, "It is time to mobilize all available government resources to fully focus on restoring the livelihood economy," adding, "As maintaining the robust growth of exports, the backbone of the economy, is essential, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and others must work as one team with businesses and strive even more fiercely on the ground."

He urged, "Each Cabinet member should dedicate themselves to their duties with the sense of mission that they are acting heads of their respective fields," and added, "I will also devote all my efforts with a desperate heart to the early stabilization of state affairs and the recovery of the livelihood economy."

He continued, "We fear only the judgment of the people and history, and as public officials, our duty is to make proper decisions and act responsibly for the country."

Regarding the upcoming New Year's government work report starting on the 8th, Acting President Choi said, "This year, the urgency, solutions, and speed of implementation must be completely different from regular work reports," emphasizing, "It must be a 'total war on crisis response' befitting the extraordinary situation."

He also referred to North Korea's missile provocation the previous day, calling it "a clear violation of the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution and a serious threat to security on the Korean Peninsula and the world," and stated, "Based on the strong ROK-US alliance, the government will firmly respond to North Korea's provocations."