Jung Jin-seok: "This Year Is the Right Time to Promote National Reform"

'Labor, Pension, and Education Reform' Emphasized
"Hope to Create a Boom with Busan Expo Bid"

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, emphasized on the 8th that "this year, with no nationwide elections, is the right time to push forward national reform."

Chairman Jeong stated at the first high-level party-government meeting of the new year held at Sarangjae in the National Assembly in the afternoon, "We must focus on the economy and security and accelerate labor, pension, and education reforms for future generations."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is speaking at the high-level party-government consultation meeting held at Sarangjae in the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 8th. The meeting discussed the Ministry of Education's plans for region-specific education reform and measures to attract the 2030 Busan Expo. Attendees from the party included Emergency Response Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok, Floor Leader Joo Ho-young, and Secretary-General Kim Seok-ki; from the government, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Choo Kyung-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Lee Ju-ho, Ministers Park Jin (Foreign Affairs), Lee Sang-min (Interior and Safety), Park Bo-gyun (Culture, Sports and Tourism), and Lee Chang-yang (Industry); and from the Presidential Office, Chief Secretary Kim Dae-gi. Photo by Yonhap News.

Chairman Jeong emphasized, "With the determination to redesign the Republic of Korea and lay the foundation for growth, the party, government, and the presidential office must work as one."

He also mentioned the topic of "education reform," which was the subject of the high-level party-government meeting that day. He said, "University education is the foundation of national competitiveness," and added, "National-level support to strengthen the competitiveness of university education must be thoroughly considered."

Furthermore, Chairman Jeong explained, "Local universities have had their tuition fees frozen for 15 years, leaving them with almost no financial capacity," and said, "The Ministry of Education must seriously acknowledge the skepticism about how much the problems faced by university education can be resolved by linking local universities and local governments."

Regarding another topic of the high-level party-government meeting, "the bid for the 2030 Busan Expo," Chairman Jeong said, "We must not let our guard down even for a moment until the decision is made in November," and added, "We need to spread the enthusiasm for the bid in preparation for the on-site inspection, and the government, National Assembly, businesses, and the private sector must work as one."

He stated, "Hosting the Busan Expo will lead to business effects beyond the quantified economic impact," and said, "I hope we accurately identify promotional points such as how much the national prestige of the Republic of Korea can rise and what effects it will have on the overall national economy when the Expo is hosted, to create a boom."

Meanwhile, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, commented on holding the first high-level party-government meeting of the year at the National Assembly, saying, "This is the first time so many media outlets have shown interest and covered a high-level party-government meeting," and added, "Ultimately, no matter how good the national administration is, it must be promoted, and holding it at the National Assembly itself seems to be a great promotion."

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