(Unofficial Translation)

Let me begin the 34th Cabinet Meeting. 

Our people are still enduring trying times during the COVID-19 crisis. An unavoidable responsibility this Administration bears for the remainder of my term is to protect the people’s lives by concentrating solely on their livelihoods and anti-epidemic measures. We are also tasked with preparing for and pioneering the nation’s future during a period of great transformation when we must respond to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and climate change. I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility, having been given this call of the times that we can no longer afford to put off.

More than anything else, the top administrative priority is to overcome the crisis facing us as quickly as possible. All government ministries and agencies should do everything possible to bring the COVID-19 situation under control at the earliest date possible. Additional measures also need to be identified and actively implemented to ease the pandemic-driven disparities and stabilize people’s livelihoods. Importantly, the recovery of jobs is the top priority. The Government will provide active support for private sector businesses to create jobs while serving as a pump primer to that end. Software, AI, big data and other new technology fields make up a treasure trove for private sector jobs. I ask you to vigorously find ways for businesses to lead efforts to nurture necessary professionals and for the Government to provide bold support. If we spread an industry-government collaboration model, we can effectively kill two birds with one stone – provide businesses with a skilled workforce and simultaneously supply young people with decent jobs.

In addition, I urge each ministry and agency to do their best with the sense that they have been charged with the Republic of Korea’s great transformation for its future. In pursuing the Korean New Deal as a national development strategy since last year, the Government has been vigorously pushing the Digital and Green New Deals. We must strive to further accelerate their spread within the private sector and local areas, so our people will be able to sense related changes in their everyday lives. Efforts should also be strengthened to make the newly added Human New Deal a success. In this regard, we will have to significantly expand “investments in people” and increase government support for a swift industrial restructuring and just transition.   

Achieving carbon neutrality and the energy transition are also crucial. These tasks are the natural responsibility of a member of the international community, and they have a direct bearing on our economy’s future. The Government should assume a more leading role and push for the accelerated implementation of practical programs to expand new and renewable energy supplies and to create an industrial ecosystem for the hydrogen economy.