Prime Minister Jeong: "With the Inauguration of the New US Administration Approaching, There Must Be No Gaps in Diplomatic and Security Cooperation"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 10th, "Ahead of the inauguration of the new U.S. administration, there must be no gaps in diplomatic and security cooperation between the two countries," adding, "We will strive to achieve results on various pending issues between Korea and the U.S. until the very end, and maintain close communication with the next administration to continuously advance the peace process on the Korean Peninsula."

At the 56th Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, Prime Minister Chung stated, "The U.S. presidential election was held on November 3rd. I congratulate candidate Biden on being elected as the 46th President of the United States, and also congratulate Senator Harris on becoming the first female Vice President in U.S. history."

Prime Minister Chung said, "Many changes are expected in the U.S. economic and trade policies going forward, and the ripple effects on our country will not be insignificant," urging, "All ministries should cooperate organically to closely analyze the impacts on our economy and major policies and prepare response strategies."

He emphasized, "Next week is Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Week. So far, SMEs have been a solid backbone of our economy through expanding investment, exports, and job creation, but the reality is that it is not easy to grow and develop from SMEs to mid-sized enterprises, and further to large corporations," adding, "The value of strong small and medium-sized enterprises equipped with expertise, innovation, and agility should be newly and more highly appreciated."

He further expressed, "This is also a prerequisite to move away from past growth centered on large corporations and the resulting polarization, towards a 'jar-shaped economy with a strong middle section.'"

He then said, "The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and related ministries should focus their capabilities on nurturing mid-sized enterprises and innovative SMEs that will grow into mid-sized enterprises in the future," adding, "In particular, in line with the Korean New Deal, please meticulously design customized measures according to industry and growth stage. Through the transition to a jar-shaped economy, I hope we can overcome the current crisis comfortably and take a step forward toward a more prosperous economy."

Prime Minister Chung also pointed out, "The number of new COVID-19 cases has not decreased easily, making every day cautious, but some groups are planning a large-scale rally this Saturday, which is very concerning," emphasizing, "The adjustment to social distancing level 1 should not be interpreted as a signal that it is now safe."

He added, "The exercise of the right to freedom of assembly must also fully consider that it can threaten the safety of others," urging, "For the safety of all citizens, please refrain from large-scale rallies. Related ministries and local governments should thoroughly manage quarantine measures if rallies are held and respond strictly to illegal acts."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.