President Moon conducts first press conference of 2019
- 5 years ago
Kicking off the third year of his single five-year term, President Moon held his first press conference of 2019.
We now connect to our Blue House correspondent Hwang Hojun, who's at the Blue House press center.
Hojun, let's start with President Moon addressing the nation at the beginning of the event.
Jiyoon, so as we expected the main focus today was on the nation's economy.
President Moon Jae-in first defended his administration's economic policy direction in spite of many believing South Korea's economy is slowing down.
He first underscored how the nation reached the US$600 billion mark in exports for the first time in history and that the government ushered in an era of 30,000 U.S. dollar per capita income.
He stressed his administration has pursued innovative growth and a fair economy by helping to increase real household income across the board and decrease living costs.
However, President Moon also noted that there were areas,... especially job reports,... that have not lived up to people's expectations. He emphasized, however, such hardships are the proof that a people-centered economy is needed.
Take a listen.
"An economic policy shift can be truly frightening. It will take time and may generate controversy. However, it is the path that we must take. We will achieve the goal of an innovative, inclusive nation by all means while sufficiently making up for any shortcomings."
President Moon insisted that the government's objective for 2019 is to make the people clearly see the signs in their everyday lives that the administration's economic policy is heading in the right direction.
At the end of his speech, President Moon also pledged to continue efforts to further improve inter-Korean relations,.. and to cooperate with the international community to resolve international sanctions against Pyeongyang for its past nuclear and missile provocations.
"We will accomplish it all: peace, innovative growth, and an inclusive nation as well."
Hojun, a nearly 80-minute-long Q and A session followed President Moon's statement,... and the President himself conducted the session.
You're absolutely right. The session, which just ended moments ago,.. was completely unscripted and unrehearsed. President Moon didn't take any questions in advance and randomly picked reporters raising their hands.
One of the most notable moments was at the beginning of the Q and A, when the questions focused on the administration's foreign policy, especially regarding North Korea.
It was here President Moon confirmed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's concept of quote "complete denuclearization" is in sync with that of the international community,... especially the U.S. and President Donald Trump, as well as China, Russia,... and President Moon himself.
When asked about whether the status of U.S. troops stationed in Korea would change following a potential declaration of the end of the Korean War, President Moon said that Kim, in fact, acknowledges that the denucle
We now connect to our Blue House correspondent Hwang Hojun, who's at the Blue House press center.
Hojun, let's start with President Moon addressing the nation at the beginning of the event.
Jiyoon, so as we expected the main focus today was on the nation's economy.
President Moon Jae-in first defended his administration's economic policy direction in spite of many believing South Korea's economy is slowing down.
He first underscored how the nation reached the US$600 billion mark in exports for the first time in history and that the government ushered in an era of 30,000 U.S. dollar per capita income.
He stressed his administration has pursued innovative growth and a fair economy by helping to increase real household income across the board and decrease living costs.
However, President Moon also noted that there were areas,... especially job reports,... that have not lived up to people's expectations. He emphasized, however, such hardships are the proof that a people-centered economy is needed.
Take a listen.
"An economic policy shift can be truly frightening. It will take time and may generate controversy. However, it is the path that we must take. We will achieve the goal of an innovative, inclusive nation by all means while sufficiently making up for any shortcomings."
President Moon insisted that the government's objective for 2019 is to make the people clearly see the signs in their everyday lives that the administration's economic policy is heading in the right direction.
At the end of his speech, President Moon also pledged to continue efforts to further improve inter-Korean relations,.. and to cooperate with the international community to resolve international sanctions against Pyeongyang for its past nuclear and missile provocations.
"We will accomplish it all: peace, innovative growth, and an inclusive nation as well."
Hojun, a nearly 80-minute-long Q and A session followed President Moon's statement,... and the President himself conducted the session.
You're absolutely right. The session, which just ended moments ago,.. was completely unscripted and unrehearsed. President Moon didn't take any questions in advance and randomly picked reporters raising their hands.
One of the most notable moments was at the beginning of the Q and A, when the questions focused on the administration's foreign policy, especially regarding North Korea.
It was here President Moon confirmed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's concept of quote "complete denuclearization" is in sync with that of the international community,... especially the U.S. and President Donald Trump, as well as China, Russia,... and President Moon himself.
When asked about whether the status of U.S. troops stationed in Korea would change following a potential declaration of the end of the Korean War, President Moon said that Kim, in fact, acknowledges that the denucle